Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

National Coordinators – an example of non-

traditional forms of central government steering

Lena HellbergMinistry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

May 2014

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

Basic facts about Sweden

• Population: 9.6 million • Density: 24 pers/km2

• Distribution: 40% lives in Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö

• Immigration: 21% born abroad or have two foreign-born parents

• Unemployment: 8.5% • GDP per capita: USD 40,000 • Average life expectancy: 84 years (women) and

80 years (men)

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

Organisation of health care in Sweden

Three political and administrative levels:

National • Ministry of

Health and Social Affairs

• Central government agencies

Regional • 21 county

councils

Local • 290

municipalities

• Legislation• Supervision• Evaluation, follow-

up• (Financing)

• Responsible for health care services to all residents.

• Impose taxes

• Responsible for domestic care of elderly and disabled

• Impose taxes

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

National Coordinator

• a person appointed by the Government

• operates outside agency structures• coordinate and implement

government policy

• dependent on several actors• complex problems

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

Example of coordinators

• efficient use of resources in the health care

• freedom of choice of provider• improved care for people with

chronic illnesses• the most ill elderly

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

Improved care for people with chronic illnesses

Strategy patient centeredness´ and

patient participation implementation of clinical

guidelines through improvement actions

prevention and early detection

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

Different types and advantages

• Negotiator• Analyst• Instigator

• Attracts attention• Flexible• More independent• Gain legitimacy