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The healthcare system in Sweden

Ludvigsson, Jonas F. ; Bergman, David ; Lundgren, Catharina Ihre ; Sundquist, Kristina LU ; Geijerstam, Jean Luc af ; Glenngård, Anna H. LU ; Lindh, Marie ; Sundström, Johan ; Kaarme, Johan and Yao, Jialu (2025) In European Journal of Epidemiology 40(5). p.563-579
Abstract

The Swedish population is characterized by high life expectancy and low avoidable mortality rates. This review outlines the Swedish healthcare system, which offers universal access to all residents and has a long tradition of reforms for social equity. Responsibility for healthcare is shared between the state, the regions, and the municipalities. The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs provides the overall healthcare framework; additionally, several governmental agencies are directly involved in healthcare and public health initiatives. The 21 regions organize, finance, and provide most primary, secondary, and tertiary care, as well as health information channels. Resources for primary care are less plentiful than in many other... (More)

The Swedish population is characterized by high life expectancy and low avoidable mortality rates. This review outlines the Swedish healthcare system, which offers universal access to all residents and has a long tradition of reforms for social equity. Responsibility for healthcare is shared between the state, the regions, and the municipalities. The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs provides the overall healthcare framework; additionally, several governmental agencies are directly involved in healthcare and public health initiatives. The 21 regions organize, finance, and provide most primary, secondary, and tertiary care, as well as health information channels. Resources for primary care are less plentiful than in many other countries. The 290 municipalities deliver care to elderly people and those with functional impairment. The Swedish healthcare system is primarily tax-funded, with 86% of total healthcare expenditures from public expenses and < 1% from voluntary health insurance. The gross domestic product (GDP) share of healthcare expenditures, 10.5% in 2022, is above the EU average. The level of unmet needs in the population is low, due to universal coverage and caps on user charges except for dental care. Sweden’s healthcare system performs well on care quality and patient satisfaction, but suffers from workforce shortage and care fragmentation. Limitations in care coordination can be attributed to a siloed digital infrastructure and care governance, a low number of hospital beds per capita, and a compensation system that often does not incentivize coordination. Despite these challenges, life expectancy is high and avoidable mortality rates are low in Sweden.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Epidemiology, Health care, Public Health, Sweden, Swedish
in
European Journal of Epidemiology
volume
40
issue
5
pages
17 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:105005447071
  • pmid:40383868
ISSN
0393-2990
DOI
10.1007/s10654-025-01226-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
509c1aea-79b1-4d65-8243-9cbf465e890b
date added to LUP
2025-09-24 12:32:13
date last changed
2025-09-25 03:00:09
@article{509c1aea-79b1-4d65-8243-9cbf465e890b,
  abstract     = {{<p>The Swedish population is characterized by high life expectancy and low avoidable mortality rates. This review outlines the Swedish healthcare system, which offers universal access to all residents and has a long tradition of reforms for social equity. Responsibility for healthcare is shared between the state, the regions, and the municipalities. The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs provides the overall healthcare framework; additionally, several governmental agencies are directly involved in healthcare and public health initiatives. The 21 regions organize, finance, and provide most primary, secondary, and tertiary care, as well as health information channels. Resources for primary care are less plentiful than in many other countries. The 290 municipalities deliver care to elderly people and those with functional impairment. The Swedish healthcare system is primarily tax-funded, with 86% of total healthcare expenditures from public expenses and &lt; 1% from voluntary health insurance. The gross domestic product (GDP) share of healthcare expenditures, 10.5% in 2022, is above the EU average. The level of unmet needs in the population is low, due to universal coverage and caps on user charges except for dental care. Sweden’s healthcare system performs well on care quality and patient satisfaction, but suffers from workforce shortage and care fragmentation. Limitations in care coordination can be attributed to a siloed digital infrastructure and care governance, a low number of hospital beds per capita, and a compensation system that often does not incentivize coordination. Despite these challenges, life expectancy is high and avoidable mortality rates are low in Sweden.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ludvigsson, Jonas F. and Bergman, David and Lundgren, Catharina Ihre and Sundquist, Kristina and Geijerstam, Jean Luc af and Glenngård, Anna H. and Lindh, Marie and Sundström, Johan and Kaarme, Johan and Yao, Jialu}},
  issn         = {{0393-2990}},
  keywords     = {{Epidemiology; Health care; Public Health; Sweden; Swedish}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{563--579}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Epidemiology}},
  title        = {{The healthcare system in Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10654-025-01226-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10654-025-01226-9}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}