Sweden healthcare trends show declining dental subsidy use and stable drug uptake

Recent data from Sweden indicates shifts in how citizens utilize healthcare subsidies. According to Försäkringskassan, the use of general dental care subsidies has declined from 68.1 percent before the pandemic to 66.7 percent in the period between July 2024 and June 2026. This decline is most pronounced among men, whose usage dropped from 64.0 percent to 62.1 percent, widening the gap with women, who maintain a higher usage rate of 71.3 percent.

Regional variations are significant, with the largest decreases observed in Gotland, where usage fell from 71.4 percent to 57.6 percent. Other regions experiencing notable declines include Västerbotten, Gävleborg, Norrbotten, and Jämtland.

In the pharmaceutical sector, an analysis by the NEPI foundation shows that an increase in patient out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs did not significantly alter medication uptake. Following a July 2025 increase in the high-cost protection cap from 2,900 to 3,800 SEK, total patient out-of-pocket expenses rose by 14.1 percent, from 8.3 billion to 9.5 billion SEK. However, sales volume remained relatively stable, with a slight increase of 0.6 percent in defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants.