Cross-border Healthcare
in Sweden and establishment of
national contact points
Thomas Zilling MD, PhD
Vice President of the AEMH
22 November 2013
Implementation of the Crossborder healthcare Directive in
Sweden
The Cross-border Healthcare
directive 2011/24/EU came
into force in Sweden October
1st 2013
Financing of healthcare in Sweden
21 County councils are allowed to tax
the local population and are responsible
to provide healthcare for the inhabitants
Implementation of the Cross-border
healthcare Directive in Sweden



Swedish patients are reimbursed for
planned medical care in the EU/EES if:
- the care has been provided by licensed
medical staff
- the costs should have been covered by
public funds if the medical care had been
given in Sweden
Implementation of the Cross-border
healthcare Directive in Sweden

Patients should not be denied the
right to compensation solely on the
basis that the treatment is not used
in Sweden, as long as the treatment
is based on “international medical
science and generally recognised
good medical practice”.

The patient’s home county council is
responsible for covering the costs.
A small but increasing number of
Swedes go abroad for medical care
Number of Swedish applicants that recieved grants for medical care in another EU
country, according to to the EC treaty.
Top recieving countries, 2012
Other EU/EES
16%
Norway
6%
Spain
8%
Finland
16%
Denmark
63%
Main types of medical care (2012)
Eye
diseases,
31,4%
Other,
52,7%
Dental
care,
Dermato17,3%
logical
diseases,
4%
The most typical patient in 2012 lived in the south of Sweden and went to neighbouring Denmark for
cataract surgery due to long waiting lists in the county council. It was also quite common for patients
with psoriasis or other dermatological diseases to go abroad for climate treatment in Spain and other
countries in southern Europe.
Two national contact points
1. The National Board of Health and Welfare.
National contact point for EU citizens seeking medical care in
Sweden.
2. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
National contact point for Swedish citizens seeking care in
another EU country.
1. www.socialstyrelsen.se/healthcare-visitors-sweden
Responsibilities accordning to
Government commissions

Information about standards and guidelines for
quality and safety in the Swedish healthcare system

General information about accessibility for the
disabled

Information about healthcare providers, on demand
also about specific providers licenses to practice

Information about patients’ rights, how to make
complaints and conditions for financial
compensation for medical injuries.
2. www.forsakringskassan.se/privpers/utomlands
Responsibilities accordning
to Government commissions



Information about patients’ rights in crossborder healthcare
Information about conditions for prior
authorization, ”advance notice” and
subsequent reimbursement
Application forms
Questions for the future


How to define; “international medical
science and generally recognized good
medical practice”.
Will this open a new market for medical
tourism?
Thanks