Sweden faces acute shortage of
Photo: Tomas Oneborg/SvD/TT

Sweden faces acute shortage of rheumatologists, doctors warn

The shortage of rheumatologists in Sweden is large and is expected to worsen, reports TV4 Nyheterna.

Today, there are 286 specialist doctors in rheumatology in Sweden. According to the Swedish Rheumatology Association, 525 are needed.

Many people think that people with rheumatism are older, but it's actually the opposite. It's very young people who get autoimmune diseases. They have the right to the best care, says Jon Thorkell Einarsson, chairman of the Swedish Rheumatology Association, to the channel.

In the next ten years, 74 of today's rheumatologists are expected to retire and too few rheumatologists are being trained in Sweden, according to the association.

"In some areas it is quite acute. Then there is a risk that it will become a downward spiral, meaning that you have no one who can supervise, you have no one who can train a rheumatologist," says Jon Thorkell.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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