Long healthcare queues a headache for the government

Shorter healthcare queues are a prioritized issue for the government, and especially for the Christian Democrats. When more than half of the term of office has passed, the pressure to show results increases. But still, no major differences are noticeable for those waiting for an operation.

» Published: January 18 2025

Long healthcare queues a headache for the government
Photo: Fredrik Surell / TT

On Monday, a government inquiry will present proposals on which state-funded one-off investments can be needed to shorten queues and increase healthcare capacity. Although the main responsibility for healthcare lies with the regions, this concerns time-limited measures.

Despite governments of different colours investing billions to increase accessibility in healthcare, it is difficult to reduce waiting times in many areas. In this year's state budget, 2 billion kronor are allocated as a sector grant to the regions and 1 billion is set aside to shorten healthcare queues.

Healthcare is the Christian Democrats' key issue, and in the government, both the Minister for Social Affairs and the Minister for Health are Christian Democrats. In their election manifesto before the 2022 election, the Christian Democrats promised that "the Social Democrats' healthcare queues will disappear".

Long waiting times

In November 2022, shortly after the change of government, 163,580 people were waiting for an operation or other treatment in specialist care, of whom 59,263 had been waiting for more than 90 days after the decision on treatment. Two years later, in November 2024, the corresponding figures were 162,117 and 58,152 people, according to statistics from the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR). Thus, no major changes.

It is operations and treatments that are the major challenge for the regions, says Johan Kaarme, head of the department for healthcare and social services at SALAR.

The greatest difficulties are in ophthalmology, orthopaedics, and ear, nose, and throat care, although the picture varies between different regions.

The inquiry has also been tasked with proposing a new, stricter healthcare guarantee, but those proposals will not come until May 2026. Today's healthcare guarantee includes, among other things, that one should be able to get in touch with primary care the same day, have the first visit in specialist care within 90 days after referral, and an operation or other treatment within 90 days after the decision on treatment.

Glimmer of hope

A glimmer of hope in the statistics is primary care, where accessibility is good and waiting times have been shortened. But many regions have difficulty living up to the healthcare guarantee, and more people are waiting for operations today than ten years ago.

However, many more operations are being performed today, which is a fantastic development. You can do much more, and more patients can be offered interventions. Even though productivity has increased, the influx is still increasing faster, says Johan Kaarme.

The healthcare guarantee is a legally established right that means the region should offer care within a certain time:

Contact with primary care the same day.

Medical assessment in primary care within three days.

Visit in specialist care within 90 days after referral.

Treatment/operation initiated within 90 days after decision.

If the healthcare unit cannot offer a time within the healthcare guarantee's time limit, the person should be informed and offered care from another care provider within the same or another region. This should not result in any additional cost for the patient.

Source: SALAR

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes
1 MIN READ

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes Catch Fire at Swedish Hospital

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices
4 MIN READ

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices Soar: 200 Kronor Gift Cards Run Out

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance
3 MIN READ

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance Powers on Minors in Sweden

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at
1 MIN READ

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at Rare Solar Eclipse with Welding Masks

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected to Be Released Soon in Turkey

Police Struggle to Keep Up
3 MIN READ

Police Struggle to Keep Up as Online Radicalization Surges

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse
3 MIN READ

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse on March 29: How to Safely Watch

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment
1 MIN READ

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment Fire; Police Investigate

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested in Turkey Without Charge Details

Teen Convicted in Skärholmen Tunnel
1 MIN READ

Teen Convicted in Skärholmen Tunnel Murder Appeals 14-Year Sentence

Key Figures Depart Following Millennium
1 MIN READ

Key Figures Depart Following Millennium System Halt in Västra Götaland

Teen Arrested After Man Shot
1 MIN READ

Teen Arrested After Man Shot in Gothenburg Residential Area

Two Arrested After Gunfire Hits
1 MIN READ

Two Arrested After Gunfire Hits Apartments in Arlöv Near Malmö

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Five Hospitalized Following Serious Car Crash Near Surahammar

Sweden Sets Clocks Forward for
1 MIN READ

Sweden Sets Clocks Forward for Summertime Transition

Man in His 70s Dies
1 MIN READ

Man in His 70s Dies in Drowning Accident in Jämtland

Facebook Revives Friend Feed to
1 MIN READ

Facebook Revives Friend Feed to Reconnect Users

Sweden Redirects 158 Million Kronor
1 MIN READ

Sweden Redirects 158 Million Kronor Aid to Myanmar Earthquake Relief

Fegen Residents Advised to Boil
1 MIN READ

Fegen Residents Advised to Boil Water Due to Waterworks Issue

Swedish Journalist's Arrest in Turkey
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist's Arrest in Turkey Sparks Global Outcry

EU License Changes May Impact
4 MIN READ

EU License Changes May Impact Swedish A-Tractor Rules for Teens

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Detained
3 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Detained in Turkey

Sixth Suspect Linked to December
1 MIN READ

Sixth Suspect Linked to December Murder in Växjö

Swedish Foreign Minister Deeply Moved
1 MIN READ

Swedish Foreign Minister Deeply Moved by Southeast Asia Earthquake

Man in Custody After Shooting
1 MIN READ

Man in Custody After Shooting at Police in Karlshamn

Swedish IS Terrorist Osama Krayem
1 MIN READ

Swedish IS Terrorist Osama Krayem Detained for Serious War Crimes

25 Charged in Sweden for
2 MIN READ

25 Charged in Sweden for Defrauding Elderly of Millions

Swedish Court to Decide on
2 MIN READ

Swedish Court to Decide on Alleged Birth Intervention Without Consent

18-Year-Old Faces Charges for Nine
1 MIN READ

18-Year-Old Faces Charges for Nine Attempted Murders in Malmö

Person Dies After Falling from
1 MIN READ

Person Dies After Falling from Ship Near Göteborg

Kristersson Faces New Inquiry Over
1 MIN READ

Kristersson Faces New Inquiry Over Alleged Political Bias in Government

Students Call for Better Sex
1 MIN READ

Students Call for Better Sex and Consent Education in Swedish Schools

Police and Prison Uniforms Illegally
1 MIN READ

Police and Prison Uniforms Illegally Sold on Sellpy, Investigation Reveals

Molotov Cocktail Attack on Uddevalla
1 MIN READ

Molotov Cocktail Attack on Uddevalla Mosque Sparks Arson Investigation

Sis CEO Responds to Criticism:
2 MIN READ

Sis CEO Responds to Criticism: Report Key to Improving Child Care

Man Sentenced to 10 Years
1 MIN READ

Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Stabbing Girlfriend in Västerås

Report Highlights Failures in Sweden's
3 MIN READ

Report Highlights Failures in Sweden's Treatment of Detained Children

Sweden's National Parks Struggle with
5 MIN READ

Sweden's National Parks Struggle with Maintenance and Accessibility

Explosion Rocks Malmö Apartment Building
1 MIN READ

Explosion Rocks Malmö Apartment Building Stairwell Overnight

Cutting Public Service Now is
1 MIN READ

Cutting Public Service Now is Irresponsible Say Swedish Social Democrats