Ministry of Health and Social Affairs
The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs is responsible for issues concerning social welfare. This means promoting people’s health and ensuring that sick people receive the care they need. The Ministry’s area of responsibility includes insurance schemes that give people financial security when they are sick or elderly, or when their children are young. Issues such as individual and family care, support for people with disabilities and care of the elderly are also included. The Ministry also works on rights for people with disabilities and on issues related to the premium pension system.
Responsible ministers
News from Ministry of Health and Social Affairs
Decisions and guidelines in the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs’ policy areas to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus
Director-General of the Public Health Agency of Sweden Johan Carlson and Minister for Health and Social Affairs Lena Hallengren at a press conference on 1 April. Ms Hallengren urges everyone to take personal responsibility: “Keep your distance, refrain from non-essential travel in Sweden and do not visit older people. There is nothing more important than people’s lives and health.” Photo: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden The Government continues to maintain a close dialogue with relevant expert government agencies on effective measures to counter the spread of the coronavirus, which can cause COVID-19. Read more below about the most recent recommendations and decisions in the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs’ policy areas of public health, medical care, social care and social insurance.
Work in the areas of public health, medical care, social care and social insurance with regard to the COVID-19 virus
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At a press conference about COVID-19 virus, March 13. Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation Ibrahim Baylan, Minister for Health and Social Affairs, Lena Hallengren, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Minister for Higher Education and Research Matilda Ernkrans.
Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden
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Lena Hallengren, Minister for Health and Social Affairs.
Photo: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden
There is now an ongoing outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The Swedish Government is following developments carefully and is in continuous contact with the responsible authorities. Below is a selection of the Government’s decisions and initiatives that have been taken so far in the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs’ areas.
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Reforms to increase welfare and security – Budget Bill for 2020
In the Budget Bill for 2020, the Government presents a range of proposals to increase security and welfare in Sweden. Here you can learn more about the proposals related to the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.
Content from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs
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Decisions and guidelines in the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs’ policy areas to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus
The Government continues to maintain a close dialogue with relevant expert government agencies on effective measures to counter the spread of the coronavirus, which can cause COVID-19. Read more below about the most recent recommendations and decisions in the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs’ policy areas of public health, medical care, social care and social insurance.
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Work in the areas of public health, medical care, social care and social insurance with regard to the COVID-19 virus
There is now an ongoing outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The Swedish Government is following developments carefully and is in continuous contact with the responsible authorities. Below is a selection of the Government’s decisions and initiatives that have been taken so far in the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs’ areas.
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Medical certificate requirement during sick pay period to be suspended
The Government is proposing to temporarily suspend the medical certificate requirement from the eighth calendar day of a sick pay period.
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Sickness benefit standard deduction temporarily discontinued
(New version) Due to the COVID-19 virus, the Government has announced that the sickness benefit standard deduction will temporarily be abolished in that the central government will pay sickness benefit for the first day of sickness. The ultimate aim of this measure is to reduce the spread of infection in society. The new regulation is in effect from 11 March until 11 May 2020.
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Government contributing SEK 40 million to WHO’s emergency fund
In light of the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, which is caused by SARS-CoV-2, the Government has decided to contribute SEK 40 million to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Contingency Fund for Emergencies. The aim of the fund is to strengthen the WHO’s ability to act rapidly, without negatively affecting its other activities, when, for example, there is an outbreak of communicable diseases.
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UN review of Sweden’s human rights compliance
Sweden’s human rights compliance will be reviewed within the framework of the UN’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Monday 27 January in Geneva. Sweden’s delegation at the review before the UN Human Rights Council will for the first time be led by a government minister – Åsa Lindhagen, Minister for Gender Equality with responsibility for anti-discrimination and anti-segregation.
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Key acts and ordinances entering into force late 2019/early 2020
This information material contains a selection of the acts and ordinances – both new and amended – that enter into force in the second half of 2019 or some time thereafter.
· Information material from Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Employment, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Environment, Prime Minister's Office
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Discussions, meetings and collaboration for developing Sweden
Interesting discussions and new perspectives characterised the National Innovation Council meeting and thematic day at Linnaeus University in Kalmar on 23 October. The aim of the Council’s regional meetings is to learn from local and regional experiences and to develop the national policy. Alongside the meeting, various workshops were also organised as part of the Innovation Council’s thematic day.
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Sweden’s national UPR report submitted to UN
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council that involves a periodic review of the human rights situation in all UN Member States. It is now time for Sweden to be reviewed within the framework of the third cycle of the UPR.
