Medical care

The Swedish Government has adopted an updated strategy to combat antibiotic resistance (AMR). The overarching goal continues to be preserving the possibility of effective treatment of bacterial infections in humans and animals. The strategy will apply until the end of 2025.

On 1 December, Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson and Minister for Health and Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed will co-host a conference to discuss Sweden’s support to Ukraine’s health and medical care system. The conference, which will convene both public and private sector actors, aims especially to outline how Ukraine’s health care system can be rebuilt, strengthened and modernised.

Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson took part in the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Among her various activities during the meeting, Ms Ankarberg Johansson took part in a panel discussion on rare diseases, sponsored by Sweden and Spain together with the organisation Rare Diseases International.

Sweden’s development assistance for health amounted to approximately SEK 6 billion in 2022. This report focuses on the contributions Sweden’s development assistance for health has made in four key areas, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and prevention and management of health threats.

On 26–27 June, Europe’s key stakeholders in the life sciences sector will gather to highlight the importance of research and innovation in personalised medicine. The conference, organised within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, will be live-streamed.

On Tuesday 13 June, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed will chair the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) in Luxembourg.

The theme of this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was the World Health Organization (WHO) at 75 and the work it does. Representing the EU and its Member States, Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson took part on the first two days (21–22 May).

In response to requests – mainly from Türkiye and Syria – for support to foreign disaster-affected or war-torn areas, the Government has tasked the National Board of Health and Welfare with assessing the possibilities of providing assistance. The agency should examine what medical equipment or materials, or other supplies, may be needed to provide care, and can be donated from available stock or Sweden’s regions after all domestic needs have been met. The Government is allocating SEK 45 million for this purpose.

Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed has been appointed member of the Global Leaders Group (GLG) on Antimicrobial Resistance. The GLG comprises world leaders and experts working together to accelerate action on antimicrobial resistance.

Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed will attend the Third Global High-level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in Muscat, Oman, on 24–25 November 2022.

November 18 - 24 is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, when the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is brought to the attention of the world. Sweden has long worked to slow down the emergence and spread of AMR. Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed is responsible for the issue of AMR in the government.

On Wednesday 19 October, recently appointed Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed hosted a meeting at the Government Offices with Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Kluge of the World Health Organisation (WHO). At the meeting, they discussed current topics such as efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), sexual and reproductive health, and how to enhance bilateral cooperation between Sweden and the WHO.

In 2022, Malin Grape was appointed as Sweden’s first AMR Ambassador to further strengthen global efforts against antimicrobial resistance.

On the 6 October, Minister for Health and Social Affairs Lena Hallengren decided to step down from her post. She will leave the Government and take up her seat in the Riksdag. Ms Hallengren will be the new Group Leader of the Social Democratic Party in the Riksdag.

A misleading campaign currently being conducted against Sweden on social media and other platforms falsely claims that Muslim children and families are systematically being subjected to abuse by Swedish public authorities.

Sweden has recently launched a new strategy for Sweden’s cooperation with the World Health Organization 2021–2025.

The Swedish Health and Medical Care Act shall make it clear that the primary care of regions and municipalities specifically provides health and medical care services for common physical and mental health care needs. This is proposed by the inquiry Coordinated development for good and close care in its sub-report Good quality, local health care. The right support for mental health.

In the interim report Elderly care during the pandemic, the Corona Commission reports on what it considers to be the most important reasons for the large spread of infection and the high death rates among the elderly in Sweden.

"Sweden aims to be a leading life sciences nation. Life sciences contribute to improving health and quality of life of the population, ensuring economic prosperity, advancing the country as a leading knowledge nation and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."