In Norway, the public health government is working for equal access to health care for everyone. Norway is called a welfare state because the government, both federal and local, has primary responsibility for the welfare of its citizens.
“The purpose of the Act is to help ensure the population equal access to good quality services by giving patients and users rights to health and care services” (Pasient- og brukerrettighetsloven, 1999, § 1-1).
People living in Norway is entitled to essential medical and care services, and anyone staying in Norway is also entitled to medical care in an emergency. This includes tourist, asylum-seekers, refugees and other immigrants who are lawfully resident in the country (Helsenorge, 2015).
Everyone must pay a fee for using many services. When you have paid a certain amount in fees, you will be entitled to an exemption card. When you get this card you will not have to pay most fees, and you will get the rest of the treatment covered.
Some medical services, such as admission to hospital, are free of charge. This does not apply dental health care. It is free treatment for children up to 18 years. People between 19-21 are entitled to reimbursement for a proportion of their dental treatment expenses. Adults need to pay, but there are many exceptions.
If you go to a physical therapist, you will get most of your treatment covered, if the physical therapist you are going to have an operating grant. As i said before, you have to pay a certain amount in fees first, before getting an exemption card. People under the age of 16, with an exemption card or people with work-relating injury, are exempt to pay a deductible.
Traumas can happen to everyone and unexpected. When it occurs, you will be dependent on getting help. If it is an emergency you will get the help you need, no matter what. If you have to go to the hospital, have a surgery etc. you don´t need to pay. but there are stil some treatments that you need to pay for. Mostly the charge for the materials that are used in the treatment, and not the time from the health provider.
In the picture below, you see a person with broken second metacarpal. He broke this during a competition, and a few hours later he came out of the hospital with a cast, ready to come home and go on with his life without have to pay a lot of money for it, he only have to pay a deductible for it.
Reference:
Helsenorge. (2015). Din rett til helsehjelp. Hentet fra:
https://helsenorge.no/other-languages/english/rights/health-care-rights?redirect=false
Lovdata. The constitution of the kingdom of Norway. Hentet fra:
https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1999-07-02-63
One thought on “Martine Flakk, “Norway, a welfare state”.”
Hi Martine
This post was so insightful and it was so interesting to learn more about the healthcare system of Norway. Reading about Norwegians having to pay fees to access some medical services made me think of a similar system we have running in South Africa.
Your content, however, was very factual and I would have loved to read your reflection on it. More of a patient’s point of view within the healthcare system or even a healthcare worker. More on how the system is being experienced, rather than just information being given on it.
I loved how you tied your information up at the end with the picture, to show how the healthcare system operates in Norway, and how speedy the patient was treated and sent home, but try and focus more on the reflective part of it maybe ? Maybe try and speak from that patient’s point of view and how he/she experienced the healthcare system and how they were treated.
Great attempt at the assignment, it was a privilege to read and comment on your work!
Kind Regards
Amy du Plessis