by FFE EU News Staff

In December, Sweden’s health care system fell a number of places in a European ranking on healthcare. This is despite having a technically advanced healthcare. The reason: sluggish queues that would take patients months and even years to be seen by their general practitioners.

According to a report by Brussels-based organisation Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP), ‘The Swedish score for technically excellent healthcare services is, as ever, dragged down by the seemingly never-ending story of access or waiting time problems.’

The group acknowledged that there has been some improvement made by the government concerning hospital queues. But the group added that ‘The target for maximum wait in Sweden to see your primary care doctor (no more than seven days) is underachieved only by Portugal, where the corresponding figure is 15 days.’

Swedish Insurance (Svensk Försäkring) has been offering a way out for patients. With their insurance plan, patients are guaranteed to see their GP within four working days. If surgery is needed, they are guaranteed to get it within 15 days.

Svensk Försäkring revealed that more than half a million Swedes are privately now insured. Eight in 10 have also been offered health insurance by their employers.

Privately insured Anna Norlander said ‘It’s quicker to get a colleague back to work if you have an operation in two weeks’ time rather than having to wait for a year. It’s terrible that I, as a young person, don’t feel I can trust the health care system to take care of me.’