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Health and personal care

No one wants to get sick but sometimes we need to be in touch with the health care system one way or another. Our guide to all different aspects of the health care in Sweden will help you understand how it works and where you go to get help.

Winter
Ultimate guide to surviving the winter in Sweden

Winter in Sweden can be a challenge for any newbie (or oldie) to navigate. If you come from another part of the world where there is more sunlight and warmer temperatures during winter, the differences in Sweden may feel too big to survive. 

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How to stock your medicine cabinet for the cold season

Having your own home pharmacy on hand means you’re covered no matter what, and it’s one less worry when illness hits. Here’s a comprehensive list of everything you need to properly stock your medicine cabinet ahead of this year’s cold season!

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Hobbies and activities to try during the Swedish winter

The Swedish winter is well-known for its cold, rainy, and snowy weather. But that doesn’t mean you have to be miserable. One great way to warm your cold bones and brighten your spirits during the Swedish winter is to keep some hobbies and pastimes handy. 

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How to enjoy the sun safely in Sweden

We all know what Sweden is most known for. Or, let’s put it this way – we all know what Sweden is not known for: SUN! But you might be surprised if I tell you that Sweden has one of the highest skin cancer incidence rates in the world. Quite contradictory, right?

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Do you need sunscreen in Sweden?

With Sweden’s reputation for being dark and cold, it’s easy to get relaxed about sun protection. But once spring and summer come around you will notice how sunny and warm it actually gets here! So, should you be wearing sunscreen when you are in Sweden? The short answer is: Yes! Always wear sunscreen in Sweden when you are exposed to the sun.

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How to avoid tick-borne disease

Finally, summer and time to enjoy the outdoors! But it is also time for protection. This is because summer is also the time when tick-borne infections such as TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) and Borrelia (Lyme Borrelios) get more common. Here is some useful information about both.

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Swedish healthcare system basics

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Health center - vårdcentralen​

When you get sick you start by visiting the local health centre – vårdcentralen, as it is the starting point for most medical treatments.

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Free choice of care

Sweden has free choice of care – fritt vårdval. This means that you are free to go to any health centre you want.

Emergency

By law you must warn and call for help in case of emergency. This obligation applies to cases of fire, acute illness or accidents that involve danger for someone’s health and life. Here we tell you what to do in a case of emergency.

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Emergency

Fire? Accident? Urgent illness? Call 112 if you find yourself or see someone else in an emergency situation.

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Emergency numbers

There are four very important phone numbers in Sweden that cover all emergencies and that you should know by heart.

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Cardiac arrest

About 10 000 people a year suffer from cardiac arrest in Sweden and there are several actions you can take to save a suffering person.

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Specialist treatment and referral

If you need to see a specialist you will generally need a referral. The easiest way to get a referral is to visit a health centre.

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Healthcare guarantee

The Swedish health care guarantee – vårdgarantin, grants you the right to specialist treatment within 90 days.

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Medical help online

Get medical help online if you can’t leave your home. Support 24/7 and mostly free depending on where you live.

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How to buy prescription medicine

Pharmacies sell both non-prescription and prescription medicines both online and in physical shops around Sweden.

Dental care

Dental care is not covered in the same way as other medical treatments and you pay a much higher proportion of your dental check-ups and treatments yourself.

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Health and personal care: our readers' personal stories

Morning after pill in Sweden
Emergency contraception is a pill you can take after you’ve had unprotected intercourse, to reduce the risk of pregnancy..…
Sexual and Reproductive Medical Care in Sweden
Contraceptive counselling is free and emergency contraception is sold over counter all over Sweden..…
Specialist Treatment & Referrals
If you need to see a specialist you will generally need a referral. The easiest way to get a referral is to visit a health centre.…
European Health Insurance Card
Are you a citizen of the EU and planning to come to Sweden? Then you should bring your European Health Insurance Card with you.…

How to donate blood in Sweden

Donating blood is a simple act, but it can save lives! It only takes around 20 minutes, but to a person, it can mean a lifetime! Keep reading to find out why donating blood is so important, and how it works in Sweden.

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Sexual and reproductive health

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Sexual and reproductive counseling

Contraceptive counselling is free and emergency contraception is sold over counter all over Sweden.

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STI - sexually transmitted infections

The law called Smittskyddslagen regulates how to deal with sexually transmitted infections in order to reduce further spreading.

contraception
Contraception

There are many different contraception methods available in Sweden such as mini-pills, spirals, hormone rings and implants.

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Morning after pill

Emergency contraception is a pill you can take after you’ve had unprotected intercourse, to reduce the risk of pregnancy.

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Abortion

All women have a legal right to abortion in Sweden and it is the woman’s right to decide if she wants to have an abortion or not.

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Sexual education in Sweden

“As a sex counsellor, I have held seminars for different schools, groups and colleges and I have remarked one thing; young Swedes have quite some knowledge when it comes to sex and sexual education.”

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Ultimate guide to pregnancy and having a baby in Sweden

It can be very overwhelming to become pregnant in another country and figure it all out. This ultimate guide compiles all of the information that you need to know regarding pregnancy and having a baby in Sweden.

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Gender identity and transitioning in Sweden

Sweden is one of the most progressive countries regarding transgender issues by conducting a google search, but the medical care part is not so easy to figure out.

Medical costs and fees

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Patient fees and high cost protection

The high cost protection prevents Swedes from paying more than 1100 SEK for healthcare over a period of twelve months.

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What applies to you?

Newbies need a residence permit and a personal number to receive healthcare on the same conditions as Swedes.

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European health insurance card

Are you a citizen of the EU and planning to come to Sweden? Then you should bring your European Health Insurance Card with you.

Moving to Sweden with a disability

Moving to Sweden with a disability and living in Sweden with a disability takes some work but here is a guide. Leaving your homeland behind and moving to a new country can be a daunting experience. However it can be even more frightening for a person with a disability.

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Mental health

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Mental health care for newbies

Your mental health care is more important than ever when you move to a new country. Many of us are (or have been) newbies and have therefore experienced how moving to another country involves a lot of feelings and challenges, affecting our mental health.

blues_350
Post-move blues

Moving to Sweden and Im feeling down. It’s cloudy. I don’t know about you and the weather where you’re at today, but here in Nyköping, it’s cloudy and raining and dark. I find that staying positive can be tough. So what can we do about it?

man-sittinig-dock
How to beat homesickness

Moving to another country is a wonderful experience, but it can be an emotional rollercoaster. Homesickness can suddenly occur, even if you’ve never felt it before! Here’s what I did to get rid of it, as it stopped me from enjoying my time here!

Funeral arrangements

Death is an unavoidable aspect of life and it can be tricky to know what to do. This guide gives you a brief overview.

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