Is the Swedish welfare state in retreat? Current trends in Swedish health care

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore, 14 years since the introduction of market reforms,rnthe extent to which changes have altered the nature of Sweden's health care financing, examine howrnthese changes have affected the views of Sweden's physicians, and to judge the impact of thesernreforms on the delivery and quality of care.rnDesign/methodology/approach - Swedish physicians', Federation of County Council members'rnand health economists' views, were explored. The data were obtained from in-depth interviews with 31rnrespondents in the summer of 2005. The sample was drawn from Stockholm County and the SkanernRegion.rnFindings - The respondents generally believed that the Swedish health care system basic structurernhad remained intact and that several early 1990s reforms, to introduce financial incentives into healthrncare system, had worked well. The diagnostic-related groups system, though not popular among somernhealth care providers, seemed to have worked for the purposes intended. The majority of Swedishrnphysicians interviewed expressed general satisfaction with their work. Several praised the internalrnreforms as contributing to more stable health care expenditures, which are low compared with otherrncountries. A majority of respondents supported the care guarantee provisions.rnOriginality/value - This paper points out that Sweden is showing what governments can do in arnglobal society where access to health care is paramount. All Swedes can feel proud of a well-plannedrnhealth care system.