The Government is presenting various initiatives in healthcare today. Many patients are waiting illegally long for care and a priority area is to reduce the care queues.
Swedish healthcare is of high quality, it enjoys high confidence. The problems are the long waiting times and that accessibility is lacking, says Minister of Health Elisabet Lann (KD).
To step up the work, the Government is allocating an additional SEK 1 billion to the regions, linked to new performance requirements. In addition, a national coordinator is being appointed to ensure that the regions' work is carried out efficiently and in a coordinated manner.
Must pay back
If the regions do not meet the set targets, they will be required to repay, says Lann.
The care queues are essentially standing still, despite the Government having invested billions during the mandate period to shorten them.
It's not just about pouring money on the regions, the Minister continues.
As a way to shorten the queues, the Government has allocated SEK 1 billion in 2025 to increase the number of operations for cataracts, hip prostheses, and prolapse. That initiative is now being extended and for 2026, an additional SEK 750 million is being allocated.
The Government is also continuing an initiative on maternal health care, childbirth care, and girls' and women's health. SEK 1 billion is being allocated for that in 2026. Today, that care is a "lottery" depending on where in Sweden you live, according to Lina Nordquist, group leader for The Liberals.
Not clear in the present
SEK 100 million is also being allocated for eating disorder care.
The goal is clear: Patients should receive care on time, and care should be of high quality regardless of where in the country you live, says Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M).
Just over SEK 260 million will also go to a national digital infrastructure so that medical records are available throughout the care chain, and patients do not have to retell their medical history at each care contact.
The work on establishing a national care referral service is also ongoing and receiving new additions, but when it can be in place is unclear.
It will take time and will not be intact and ready for implementation in the present, says SD's group leader Linda Lindberg.
Performance-based funds for the regions to shorten care queues: 1,000
Continued initiative for shorter care queues: 750
Agency assignments for shorter care queues: 15
National coordinator for shorter care queues: 5
National care referral service: 125
Establish a national digital infrastructure: 262
Continued work on better maternal health care and girls' and women's health: 1,000
Knowledge support for the implementation of the national plan for childbirth care: 10
Strengthened care for victims of sexual violence: 200
Reinforced eating disorder care: 100
Special education in hospitals: 10
Total: 3,477
Facts: Government Offices
