The Swedish healthcare system is decentralized, universal for all residents irrespective of nationality, and largely
. The three levels on which the Swedish healthcare system is organized and administered are national, regional, and local. The central government’s policies, regulations, and budget for health and medical care are set by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The 21 counties oversee providing inhabitants with
such services. The care of the elderly and the disabled, including long-term care, is the local responsibility of 290 municipalities. In Sweden, healthcare is provided by both public and private organizations, and all are subject to the same regulations.
Expenditure on healthcare
In Sweden, healthcare expenditure accounted for 10.7 percent of GDP in 2022. Swedish healthcare expenditure has been relatively consistent and is
comparable to that of most other high-income European nations. About 86 percent of total healthcare expenditure was publicly funded, the bulk of which was financed by regional and municipal revenues from taxes, the national government accounted for approximately 2.5 percent of health spending in 2021. Direct out-of-pocket costs by households make up for the remaining share of health spending, primarily for dental care and pharmaceuticals. While private health insurance accounts for only a minor fraction of total spending. Sweden's
spending on health per capita was the eighth highest among EU countries in 2022.
Healthcare system challenges
The Swedish health and healthcare system is among the
best-ranked health systems in the EU. The healthcare system generally performs well in providing good access to high-quality care. However, there are still issues with guaranteeing timely access to care, obtaining stronger care coordination for those with chronic diseases, and raising the standard of long-term care, as well as ensuring that the population residing in rural locations has equitable access to care. In comparison to EU averages, Sweden has a larger proportion of
doctors and nurses per person. However, there are relatively few general physicians in Sweden which has resulted in nurses having to take on added responsibilities in
primary care clinics. Similar to other high-income countries with universal healthcare, Sweden too is facing
challenges with healthcare staff shortages, long wait times for treatment, and an aging population.
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