Ministry of Health and Social Affairs

On 11–13 May, Minister for Health Care Elisabet Lann and Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson visited Kyiv and Lviv. The aim of their visit was to gain insight into Ukraine’s health and medical care and the situation for women during Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The Government has presented a new support package for global health totalling SEK 72 million for 2026. The support includes SEK 50 million in core support to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) for work with vaccines in low-income countries, and SEK 2 million to the Partnership for International Politics and Diplomacy for Health, a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics. The Government is also giving SEK 20 million in support for donations of medical technical equipment and medical supplies.

The Swedish Government is presenting a new 10-year national strategy for combating men’s violence against women, domestic violence, exploitation in prostitution and human trafficking, and honour-based violence and oppression. In parallel, the Government has decided on two Government Commissions tasking several government agencies to take part in a national collaboration structure and to monitor progress in relation to the gender equality subgoals to combat violence, oppression and exploitation.

The Government’s task force for Jewish life in Sweden gathered for its first meeting of the year on 30 January. On this occasion, it was held at the Swedish Police Authority’s premises in Kungsholmen, Stockholm. The meeting was attended by Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer, National Police Commissioner Petra Lundh and representatives of the Swedish Institute for Human Rights and the National Agency for Education.

For several intensive February days in Cairo, Minister for Health Care Elisabet Lann met with organisers and actors that care for severely injured patients from Gaza on a daily basis. The trip provided a deeper understanding of the extensive work being done and how Swedish initiatives are contributing.

Sweden’s support to Ukraine makes a difference. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has approved increased funding for the National Board of Health and Welfare’s programme for expanded support to Ukraine for health and medical care, care of older people and children.

On Monday 9 February, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed, Minister for Older People and Social Security Anna Tenje, Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönwall, and the Liberal Party’s Fredrik Malm will hold a press conference to present the Government’s news on its increased support to Ukraine in the health and medical care and social policy areas. Ukraine’s Ambassador to Sweden Svitlana Zalishchuk will attend the press conference.

Speech by Sweden’s Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall. Delivered at the Sixty-fourth session of the Commission for Social Development, United Nations, New York. Check against delivery.

The 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development opens today, 2 February. Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall is representing Sweden in New York.

This strategy has a ten-year perspective to enable various actors to work long term on issues that can help realise the vision: “A society in which access to treatment with antimicrobials is maintained through cross-sectoral and sector-specific initiatives to prevent infection and limit the development, spread and consequences of resistant microorganisms.”

On 11–13 January, the Swedish Government took part in the Society and Defence Annual Conference in Sälen. 2026 marks 80 years since the first conference was held, and the theme for 2026 was ‘Resolve and delivery’. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson opened the conference with a speech and Gunnar Strömmer, Minister for Justice, Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pål Jonson, Minister for Defence and Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Minister for Civil Defence, also spoke. The Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, also attended the conference.

Jewish culture is an integral part of Swedish culture, and Jewish history in Sweden is an essential thread in the fabric of our shared cultural heritage. It should be self-evident that Jews in Sweden can wear their Star of David or kippah openly and with pride. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

A proposal for new legislation on children and young people taken into care is to be referred for consultation by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The proposals would see the Care of Young Persons Act being replaced by modern and clear legislation that meets the protection and support needs of children and young people today.

The Government has adopted a new 10-year strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The strategy will guide and reinforce Sweden’s work in this area and contribute to global goals of reducing mortality.

On 15 May 2025, the Government adopted a national strategy to strengthen Jewish life and combat antisemitism. The Government has now appointed a national coordinator in order for the strategy to achieve its objectives and lead to lasting changes in society.

Speech by Sweden’s Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall. Delivered at the world social summit in Doha, November 5th 2025. Check against delivery.

On 4–6 November, Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall will take part in the UN World Summit for Social Development in Doha.

On Friday 10 October, the ninth meeting of the Government’s Task Force for Jewish life in Sweden took place, this time at the National Council for Crime Prevention. Representatives from the Living History Forum and the Segerstedt Institute were invited to speak.