Public health

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.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a new global Commission on Social Connection. The aim of the Commission is to spotlight the public health problem of loneliness and involuntary isolation and make it a priority. Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed has been included among the twelve Commissioners – the only one from Europe.

National Statement at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) delivered by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström on behalf of Sweden. New York, September 2023 Check against delivery

On 18–26 September, several high-level meetings will be held in connection with the opening of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters in New York. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson will attend.

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).

Sweden and the majority of World Health Organization (WHO) Member States in the WHO European Region have decided to relocate the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases from Moscow to Copenhagen. The decision was taken in support of Ukraine and enables the WHO to continue its work fighting noncommunicable diseases in Europe.

Speech delivered by Jakob Forssmed at the 66th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, on 13 March 2023. Check against delivery.

The Government has decided to donate 722 000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to the COVAX global vaccine initiative. Sweden has thereby donated more than 15 million doses and contributed more than SEK 2 billion to global vaccination efforts against COVID-19.

At a press conference on 16 February, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed announced that the temporary entry restrictions on travel from China will be lifted. The restrictions meant that travellers from China were required to present a negative COVID-19 test result. The temporary entry restrictions will cease to apply on 18 February 2023.

Speech delivered by Jakob Forssmed at the seminar Convergence on Global Health - Joint action with reference to the new EU Global Health Strategy at Karolinska Institutet, on 9 February 2023. Check against delivery.

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.

On 26 January, the Swedish Government decided to extend the previously-adopted entry restrictions requiring all travellers from China to be able to present a negative test result for ongoing COVID-19 infection upon arrival in Sweden, regardless of their vaccination status.

The Government decided today to introduce temporary entry restrictions on travel from China. This means that travellers from China need to present a negative COVID-19 test result to enter Sweden. The test requirement applies as of 7 January.

The lifting of exit restrictions from China, combined with the increased and widespread spread of COVID-19 in the country, has raised the question of introducing entry restrictions, including in Europe. Sweden is now preparing to introduce certain such restrictions requiring a negative COVID-19 test. Travellers from China need to be prepared for decisions being taken at short notice.

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.