Healthcare in Sweden

Healthcare in Sweden is widely regarded as being one of the best in the world. The tax-funded system provides equal access to everyone in the country, which has one of the best doctor-to-patient ratios in the world. Sweden's healthcare system is decentralised and largely managed by local and regional councils. 

Public healthcare in Sweden

The Swedish government invests more than a tenth of its GDP into healthcare annually, providing excellent medical care for all citizens, including expats with residence visas. This means that everyone who is a legal resident in Sweden, no matter their nationality, is entitled to the same medical care Swedish nationals receive. 

Fees for adults are nominal and are among the most affordable in Europe, and these are capped annually. Thereafter, patients will receive an exemption card and access healthcare at no cost. The only problem with Sweden’s healthcare system is that there can occasionally be long waiting times before a patient is granted an appointment. 

Waiting-time policies have been implemented in a bid to reduce this issue. These stipulate that patients are to wait no longer than seven days for an appointment with a general doctor and no longer than 90 days to see a specialist or undergo surgery. In reality, these standards are only met for about two thirds of patients.

How to register for public healthcare in Sweden

If you would like to benefit from Sweden’s healthcare system, you must apply for a personal identification number (personnummer) at the tax office. Expats who are not EU citizens and have not yet qualified for Swedish residency must take out private health insurance to cover their costs. 

To start accessing healthcare in Sweden, you must register with a local public health centre known as a vårdcentraler and find a family doctor. We recommend seeking the help of a friend or a local to find a general practitioner. 

Useful links

• Ministry of Health and Social Affairs
• Swedish Tax Agency – Personal Identity Numbers

Private healthcare in Sweden

Private healthcare is not commonly used in Sweden, but the number of private healthcare facilities in the country has increased in recent years. As private healthcare is not affiliated with the Swedish Social Insurance Administration, treatment is more expensive than in public facilities. 

Most locals and expats use private healthcare to avoid long waiting lists and for elective procedures. While public healthcare is excellent, you may find more comfort and privacy in private hospitals.

Health insurance in Sweden

Although some companies offer private medical insurance to entice senior executives, private health insurance in Sweden is rare. The chief benefit of such insurance is not the quality of healthcare – treatment will be at the same facilities and at the hands of the same doctors as public care – but rather the privilege of circumventing waiting times.

Those who are not EU citizens should take out private health insurance to ensure that all their medical treatment will be covered. We recommend checking with your insurance company in your home country to see if your policy will be valid in Sweden.

EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access state healthcare during a short-term visit. UK citizens can use their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC for UK citizens post-Brexit.

Pharmacies in Sweden

Pharmacies in Sweden can be found all around the country and are identifiable by the Apoteket sign on the front door. They are usually open from 10am to 6pm on weekdays and from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. Every large city in Sweden should also have a 24-hour pharmacy for emergencies.