Norway boosts GP fees to fund longer consultations

The Norwegian government has allocated more than NOK 1 billion to raise the fee schedule for general practitioners. New tariffs increase payments for consultations lasting longer than 25 minutes – for example, a 30‑minute visit now receives NOK 264 instead of NOK 255, a 31‑35 minute visit earns NOK 396, and a 45‑minute visit rises from NOK 510 to NOK 660. Shorter appointments receive reduced rates, leaving overall doctor earnings largely unchanged.

The reform aims to give GPs more time with each patient, improve care quality and help lower Norway’s high sickness‑absence level by encouraging discussion of alternatives to full sick‑leave. Critics note that doctors with already full schedules may have to cut shorter visits, potentially reducing overall availability or requiring larger patient lists, and they warn that the changes could affect basic subsidies for some practices.

The changes were negotiated between the Ministry of Health and Care Services, led by Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre, and the Norwegian Medical Association (Legeforeningen).