The Healthcare Landscape In Sweden

If anyone wants to see an example of a good healthcare system then all they need to do is take a look at Sweden. The proof is in the pudding as they say, and if you take a look at the health of the people in Sweden you will see everything you need to know. People in the country are living increasingly longer. The average life span is 80.1 years for men and 83.7 years for women.

One of the reasons for this is because there is a decreasing mortality rate in regards to strokes and heart attacks. Sweden is also a country whereby the number of children born is increasing with every year that passes and Sweden has one of the biggest elderly populations in Europe. Of course, one of the main reasons why Sweden’s health profile is so positive is because of the country’s health system.

Medical care and health care is a responsibility that is shared by the municipalities, county councils, and central government in Sweden. The country boasts an assortment of advanced hospitals with state of the art medical technology. This is ideal for anyone that has done a nursing degree or an advanced social work degree online. The doctors and nurses are of the highest standard as well. The health care system is characterized by equal access for all and there is an argument for improved health care because doctors are able to spend more time with their patients in order to develop a relationship and understand their needs more.

Swedish nationals benefit from a lot of free health care options. Inpatient treatment is generally free and you can also find state-provided dental care from most dentists in the country. Nonetheless, there are some costs in place for the likes of specialist care, doctor visits, prescriptions, and outpatient treatment. Typically they aren’t too expensive, i.e. £12 for treatment from a doctor, £24 for specialist care, and a daily standard charge of £6.50 when in the hospital for an overnight stay.

Despite Sweden boasting one of the best healthcare systems in the world, if you are planning on visiting the country or moving to it, you are advised to acquire international health insurance prior to your move. This will ensure that you do not end up with any extortionate bills and that you really make the most of the advanced facilities that Sweden has to offer. There are lots of great private hospitals in the country and if you do not take out global medical insurance you could find yourself facing restrictions if you want to take advantage of the state healthcare system.