18. Health care
Content
Major hospitals administered by the Region Stockholm can be found via the following link:
Health care in region Stockholm - 1177 - external website,
A distinction is made between primary and specialist care. Primary care is provided by local health centres and hospitals.
A referral from a primary care doctor is required to receive specialist treatment.
18.1 See a doctor
Information regarding health care centres and hospitals for non-emergency health care is available in the online health care guide 1177.se or by calling the telephone number 1177.
1177 Vårdguiden - external website,
In case of a medical emergency, call the emergency services at 112 or contact any major nearby hospital.
18.2 Health care charges
Health care for members of diplomatic missions is offered under the publicly funded health and medical care system. Costs are charged according to the rates that apply to non-registered persons. See more about costs here:
Pricelist for health care (in Swedish) - external website,
For hospitalisation, the full cost of treatment will be charged. To avoid potentially high costs, it is important to ensure that staff are covered by a medical insurance policy or another arrangement offering the same protection.
As an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you are entitled to health care under the same health scheme as those who are insured and reside in Sweden, provided that you can present a certificate from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. Read more under section 18.4.
If you are insured in a Nordic country, you pay the same amount for health care services as people insured in Sweden. You will need to present an ID card and your home address.
Sweden has special medical care agreements with Algeria, Australia, Israel, Türkiye and the Canadian Province of Quebec that entitle their citizens, including diplomatic representatives, to receive medical care in Sweden under special terms.
For more information:
1177: Health care in Sweden if you come from another country - external website,
18.3 Planned medical care
Routine health care and minor medical issues are managed by primary care physicians at primary care centres.
The International Patient Office at Karolinska University Hospital, which is part of Region Stockholm coordinates specialised planned medical care for staff members of diplomatic missions. Members of the staff of diplomatic missions from embassies within the EU should contact the social insurance agency in their home country in order to receive a certificate of entitlement for health care in Sweden (see chapter 18.4)
Access to Region Stockholm hospitals and various specialist clinics for specialised care is available. The International Patient Office at Karolinska University Hospital assists in payment procedures.
To apply for specialised treatment follow the link below.
Karolinska University Hospital: Treatment inquiry - external website,
Should you require further information, please contact International Patient Office via email:
[email protected]. - opens your email client,
Karolinska University Hospital: International Patient Office (IPO) - external website,
Telephone number for the International Patient Office: +46 8 123 74 500
18.4 Special rules for EU/EEA citizens
As an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you are entitled to health care under the same health scheme as those who are insured and reside in Sweden, provided that you can present a certificate from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
To obtain such a certificate from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, you must send an S1 (formerly E106) certificate issued by your national health authority to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. If your national health authority uses the certificate S1, you must include information about your family members who also live in Sweden during the period in which the S1 certificate is valid in a separate letter. Please apply for the S1 certificate from the national health authority in your country of residence prior to arrival in Sweden.
The S1 certificate should be sent to the following address:
Försäkringskassans inläsningscentral, 839 88 Östersund
For further information, please contact the department for international care at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency by telephone, 0771-524 524, or visit:
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency - external website,
When visiting a health care facility, a fixed administrative fee will be charged, which varies between counties and municipalities.
18.5 Private health care
A number of private hospitals and clinics offer both emergency medical care and planned medical care. Private hospitals have their own registration system that is not connected to the Region Stockholm hospital reserve number system. Charges at private clinics may also differ from the fixed rate charged at the council hospitals and medical centres.
18.6 Health care for private servants
Private servants are normally not registered as Swedish residents or included in the national health scheme, and are therefore charged according to the rates that apply to non-registered persons. The employer of a private servant is responsible for providing their health insurance.
18.7 Health care advice over the phone
The Regions of Sweden provide the health care guide 1177, which offer 24-hour service with medical advice over the phone. The experienced nurses who answer calls to 1177 provide guidance in Swedish and other languages regarding the appropriate care at the appropriate place. There is no need to log in to 1177.se or to enter your immunity number when calling 1177, you may just hold the line.
For more information:
1177: Seeking health care - external website,
If you are in an emergency and you require immediate care, you should always dial 112.
18.8 Prescriptions
Prescription medicine can be collected at a pharmacy after a doctor has issued an electronic prescription. These prescriptions are accessible to all pharmacies in Sweden through a database administered by the Swedish eHealth Agency. When collecting a prescription medicine, it is important to let the pharmacist know that the patient, as a member of mission staff registered with the Protocol Department at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has an immunity number, so that the pharmacist can easily find the number via the drop-down menu in the database.
Alternatively, it is possible to ask the doctor to print out the prescription and then present the paper prescription to collect prespriction medicine at any pharmacy in Sweden.
As the Swedish Tax Agency does not link immunity numbers of family members the way it does with personal identity numbers, it is advisable to bring a proof of parenthood, e.g. a birth certificate, to the pharmacy if the patient is a minor as proof that the parent is eligible to collect prescription medicine for the minor.
18.9 The Public Health Agency of Sweden
The Public Health Agency of Sweden is the government agency with national responsibility for public health issues that works to ensure good public health. It also works to ensure that the population is protected against communicable diseases and other health threats.
The Public Health Agency of Sweden - external website,
For an additional overview of information and advice from responsible Swedish authorities, please visit the website
Links
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Contact
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Visiting address Gustav Adolfs torg 1
Address 103 39 STOCKHOLM
email to Protocol Department
