It is a survey that the Swedish Medical Association has conducted among its employees within the regions, which shows the high figures.
Even though it is natural to have a certain amount of overtime in the medical profession, this is too much. It conceals the need to recruit more doctors, says the association's chairman Sofia Rydgren Stale.
A total of 12,700 doctors have responded to the survey and on average work 7.2 hours of overtime per week. Over a year, this corresponds to the cost of nearly 4,000 doctors, according to the Swedish Medical Association.
Other information
Anna Rudin, senior physician in rheumatology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, has experienced how the situation has worsened in recent years.
I believe that most doctors are willing to work overtime when it benefits patients and when they perform work that requires their level of competence. Now, a large part of the unpaid overtime goes to taking over administrative tasks from other staff in poor digital systems that do not require medical competence.
In many employment contracts, it is taken for granted that specialist doctors will tick off that overtime compensation is not included.
This happens early in their careers and is perceived as normal. My advice to younger colleagues is to refuse to accept this. Those who take responsibility for patients and the future of healthcare must say stop, says Anna Rudin.
Scaring away
Her concern is that it will be difficult to recruit doctors in the future if digitalization does not simplify work.
Nurses have already been scared away by poor working conditions, and there is a risk that the same will happen with doctors.
From the Swedish Medical Association, they think it is a big problem that only a certain part of the worked overtime is reported.
Many reporting systems are so complicated that you do not think it is worth it, it takes too much time. Many members also report that there are norms on some workplaces that overtime should not be registered, says Sofia Rydgren Stale.
Overtime conceals the need to recruit more doctors, which ultimately risks affecting patients, she says.
Petra Hedbom/TT
Facts: Many hours of overtime
TT
The statistics cover members of the Swedish Medical Association who work within the regions and are based on self-reported overtime in 2024. The measure includes the total overtime in 2024, both registered and unregistered.
It involves both overtime that is registered and time that is not reported.
12,700 doctors have responded to the survey and on average work 7.2 hours of overtime per week. Over a year, this corresponds to the cost of nearly 4,000 doctors, according to the Swedish Medical Association.
