Sweden addresses healthcare training shortages and near care models

In Sweden, political discussions are intensifying regarding the management of healthcare training and the implementation of ‘near care’ models. Healthcare Minister Elisabet Lann has advocated for regional training positions to be driven by actual healthcare needs rather than regional autonomy. This push for regulation follows data showing that average waiting times for general medical training (AT) increased by 60 percent between 2008 and 2022, a trend that has previously led some doctors to leave the profession.

To address competence supply, a forum for training services is being established within the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). There are ongoing calls to strengthen national responsibility to ensure quality in specialist training (ST).

Simultaneously, in Region Skåne, efforts are underway to transition toward a ‘near care’ model. This strategy focuses on preventive work, digitalization, and integrated patient teams. For example, some health centers have adopted the ‘Alaska model,’ utilizing fixed, multi-professional teams to improve outcomes for patients with multiple chronic conditions and to reduce the burden on emergency departments through mobile care teams and home visits.