Healthcare

Sweden is renowned for its world-class healthcare system, offering affordable and high-quality care. Whether you're a resident or a visitor, this guide provides essential information to navigate healthcare services in Gothenburg.

Emergency Services

In case of emergency, call 112 for immediate assistance or go directly to a hospital’s emergency department (akutmottagning), which operates 24/7.

1177 – Your Healthcare Resource

  • Visit 1177.se for official information about Swedish healthcare in English.
  • Call 1177 to speak with a nurse for medical advice, available 24/7. You can request assistance in English.
  • Use the “Hitta vård” tool on the Swedish version of the site to locate:
    • Health centres (vårdcentral)
    • Out-of-hours clinics (jourcentral)
    • Hospitals (sjukhus)
    • Dental care providers (tandvård)

Healthcare Centres (Vårdcentral)

  • Your first stop for non-urgent medical issues.
  • Staff includes general practitioners, nurses, and specialists such as midwives, psychologists, and dietitians.
  • Services include prenatal and paediatric care.
  • Open weekdays from approximately 8 AM to 5 PM.
  • Register at your local healthcare centre once you have a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer).

Find healthcare centres in West Sweden via 1177 – vårdcentral Västra Götaland.

Out-of-Hours Clinics (Jourcentral)

  • For medical issues during weekends or evenings, visit an out-of-hours clinic (Jourcentral or Primärvårdsakuten).
  • No appointment is needed, but calling ahead is recommended.
  • Locate clinics in West Sweden via 1177 – jourcentral Västra Götaland.

Pharmacies (Apotek)

  • Purchase prescription and over-the-counter medications at local pharmacies.
  • Pharmacists can provide advice on minor health issues.

Healthcare Costs

  • Doctor or emergency visits cost approximately SEK 100–300.
  • With a Swedish personal identity number, you benefit from high-cost protection:
    • Maximum of SEK 1,100 for healthcare within a 12-month period.
    • Maximum of SEK 2,200 for prescription medications within the same timeframe.
  • EU/EEA/Swiss citizens with an EHIC card pay standard fees (around SEK 300) for emergency care.
  • Non-EU visitors must pay full costs unless covered by private insurance. Emergency care can be expensive, so having health insurance is strongly advised.

If you have a Swedish personal identity number, you only have to pay a maximum of SEK 1,100 during a 12 month period for healthcare. Once you have paid a total of SEK 1,100, you get free care for the rest of the 12 month period.

For prescription medications, you will pay a maximum of SEK 2,200 during a 12 month period.

  • Free dental care for individuals under 25 years old.
  • Subsidised costs for those over 25 if registered with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan):
    • Annual subsidy: SEK 150–300, depending on age.
    • High-cost protection for major dental work:
      • Pay the first SEK 3,000.
      • Receive 50% compensation for costs between SEK 3,000–15,000.
      • Receive 80% compensation for costs above SEK 15,000.

Choose any dentist or dental hygienist that suits your needs. Find dental clinics in West Sweden via 1177 – tandvård Västra Götaland.

Child Healthcare (Barnvårdscentralen – BVC)

  • Free visits to child health centres (BVC).
  • Services include:
    • Newborn examinations
    • Breastfeeding support
    • Vaccination programmes
    • SIDS risk reduction advice
  • Additional information is available on the BVC English page and Information Sverige’s translated resources.

Photo credits: Jonas Ingman/westsweden.com