Every person resident in Sweden is covered by the national health insurance system. The authorities responsible for public healthcare are the county council/regions and the municipalities.

The health insurance system covers most of the costs of visits to doctors, hospitalisation and laboratory fees. Maternity care and paediatric care are free of charge. 

Medical care and hospitalisation are covered by a patient fee. The size of this fee is set by county councils and may vary depending on the medical service being provided and from county to county. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens working in Sweden are entitled to healthcare in Sweden on the same terms as those who are resident in Sweden. 

Doctors
If you need to see a doctor you should contact your ‘vårdcentral’ (primary health care centre). In each district there are one or more primary health care centres with services including doctors and district nurses. 
The patient fee is SEK 120-200, although the maximum payable per year is SEK 900. You can also make an appointment with a private practitioner (see the blue pages in the phone book). Please note that not all private practitioners are affiliated to systems approved by the Försäkringskassa (the Swedish Social Insurance Administration), which means that a visit to these doctors is considerably more expensive than a visit to a doctor who has signed up to a provision scheme. 

Hospitals
If you are seriously or dangerously ill, you can go to a hospital’s ‘akutmottagning’ (accident and emergency department). You can also phone ‘Sjukvårdsupplysningen’ (healthcare information line) first and ask for advice. A referral to a specialist or a hospital is made by a doctor working in primary healthcare or in the accident and emergency department. The patient fee when you are admitted to hospital is SEK 80/day. 
Medicines
Apoteket (state-owned pharmacy company) has exclusive rights to prescription medicines. When you buy prescription medicines you pay a discounted price. Maximum cost protection means that you pay no more than SEK 1 800 a year. 

Dentists
Dental care is free for children and young people below the age of 19, after which you yourself must pay for all or some of your dental care. There is maximum cost protection. 
Public dental care can be found at ‘Folktandvården’ (Public Dental Service). However, for adults it is just as common to visit a private dentist. 

In the event of an emergency, phone 112 (valid for the whole country) for the ambulance, fire and police services and for poison information and dentists on call.

Text last edited on: 11/2009