Seeing a doctor in Sweden

If the worst thing happens and you get sick while travelling in Sweden, you’ll want to seek medical attention. First things first: if you’re seriously ill or badly injured, the best thing to do is get yourself to the nearest hospital. Swedish emergency departments (akutmottagningar) are among the best in the world, and are well equipped to deal with all sorts of medical emergencies. If you’re unable to reach the hospital yourself, call 112 and request an ambulance. Air ambulances operate in hard-to-reach areas of the country.

For other, non-urgent medical problems, you should attempt to see a doctor at a regular clinic. Public healthcare centres (vårdcentraler) can be found in most Swedish towns and cities – this map (in Swedish) will help you find the nearest clinic. In larger cities like Gothenburg and Stockholm there are special drop-in centres allowing you to see a doctor on the same day. Our guide to healthcare in Sweden has more information on how these clinics work.

If you’re not sure whether you need medical attention and want to discuss your condition with someone over the telephone, ring 1177 from anywhere within Sweden. Trained staff will be able to advise you on what steps to take, and should also be able to help you find a clinic that can give you the care you need. This telephone service is free but getting treatment and medication will almost certainly cost you money. Some countries have reciprocal agreements with Sweden, which means it’s usually possible to see a doctor for next to nothing (more details here) but you should always, always make sure you have adequate travel insurance.

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