Health Care Guarantee
Vårdgaranti

From the time it is decided that a patient should be seen by a physician for a first visit at the district health care clinic, or alternatively, make a visit or receive a treatment within specialized care, the health care guarantee indicates how long, at the longest, a patient shall be required to wait. If it is not possible to receive care or treatment at the health care facility where a patient has sought care within the designated time frames, a patient shall be offered an appointment or treatment at another health care facility.

It is possible that a patient can be referred to another health care facility in another region or under the jurisdiction of another county council. 

The health care guarantee applies only in the county council or region in which the patient is registered. If a patient decides to seek care outside the county council of residence, the patient is not guaranteed care within a specific period of time., 

According to the health care guarantee, a patient has the right to:

• 0 – Contact with primary health care the same day
  The same day that a patient seeks help, contact with primary health care shall be provided, for example, contact with a district health care clinic or the medical treatment advisement line (a telephone-based service). This initial contact can take place via telephone or through a personal visit.
• 7 – Visit with a physician within primary health care within seven days
  If health care personnel determines that a patient needs to see a physician, a patient shall be seen by a physician within seven days at the longest, at a district health care clinic or with a family doctor, for example.
• 90 – Visit with specialised care within 90 days
  If a patient obtains a referral to specialised care, the specialised care unit shall see the patient within 90 days. This applies even if the patient has sought treatment without a referral.
• 90 – Treatment begun within 90 days
  Upon a decision for treatment, for example an operation, the patient shall be seen within 90 days.

The health care guarantee does not apply

• to follow-up visits
• if, for medical reasons, the patient should wait longer than the time frame provided by the health care guarantee
• to medical services, for instance laboratory or x-ray examinations
• to investigations and examinations
• to the provision of means of assistance, with the exception of the trial of hearing aids
• if the patient chooses to refuse an offer of treatment with another health care facility (if the patient later changes his/her mind, he/she can accept the offer of treatment)
• if the patient chooses to seek care at a health centre or clinic under the jurisdiction of a county council other than where the patient is registered.

The guarantee does not determine if you are to receive care, what kind of care you will receive or how long an assessment will take.

There is a national website for the follow-up of health care guarantees and waiting lists, www.vantetider.se. On the website, patients can find information about waiting lists within the region and the county council's area of jurisdiction.