Seeing the doctor

Calling 1177

This subject worried me a lot when I stepped foot in Sweden. A new country with a foreign language and probably a complicated health system. Fortunately, I did not have to encounter any health matters until the second year I was in Sweden - in 2018 where I had concerns about my menses. I knew, sooner or later, I have to visit a doctor. I called 1177 and got an appointment with a gynecologist. 1177 is Sweden's local healthcare number and there is a website that the locals refer to in case you need any general advise. If you need any medical advise, the nurse that answers the call will advise you. But if you have a female problem, then the nurse will book a time for you with the gynecologist. The nurse books for me a spot that is the nearest to my home. Do not bother getting a doctor appointment if you have a flu or a fever. The nurse will advise you to rest at home. So, whenever I get flu, cough or fever, it is lots of ginger, honey and lemon drink.

Recently, I called 1177 and I was having a difficult time understanding the nurse because she has a southern accent. If you ask any Swedes, they will tell you that the southern accent is challenging to comprehend. So, when I could not answer the nurse's questions (the conversation was in Swedish), she said that she cannot book any time for me because we do not understand each other and I have to look for my own medical care. I freaked out and I told her to repeat the question one more time, and fortunately I could understand. Finally, I got a booked time. Phew! One can opt to choose other languages upon calling 1177 but I had mine in Swedish. 

The Price

The healthcare system here allows everyone to healthcare at affordable price. Each doctor visit costs SEK200 and once the amount of SEK1150 reaches in that same year, it is free for the patient. The amount of SEK1150 repeats itself the following year. This is worthwhile for those who are very sick. A specialist visit will cost SEK350, which is what I paid for a gynecology. 

Getting the Prescriptions

In the summer of 2018, I got bitten by a tick and went to the drop-in time in the nearest hospital. The drop-in time was between 10-11am. Skin problems were treated during the drop-in time. Only certain health problems get entertained during the drop-in time. Medicines are surprisingly not sold in the hospital. The doctor prescribes the necessary medicine and you go to any pharmacy, show your identity card to the pharmacist, and you can get your medicine. Of course, you pay for the medicine. In the event the pharmacy does not sell the medicine, they will advise you on the nearest pharmacy that sells the medicine. 

Emergency 112

If there is an emergency and you need an ambulance to go to the hospital, you call 112 and an ambulance will pick you up. It was a surprise to me when I found out that the ambulance service is not affiliated to any hospitals. So, the ambulance will send you to the nearest hospital and you pay SEK500 for the ambulance service. Any doctor and medicine treatment in the emergency room is free. 

To buy or not to buy health insurance

Then, came the question if I needed to buy health insurance in Sweden, considering that I can see a doctor by calling 1177 or 112. I have health insurance in Malaysia, so it was natural for me that I asked this question. With a public healthcare in Sweden, it is not necessary to buy a private health insurance. But this private insurance assures you immediate access to health care and you do not need to wait for an appointment letter. Before you can get that immediate access, you need to pay SEK500 to 'activate' the insurance. It is called 'self-risk'. This shocked me too. Why do you need to pay extra SEK500 when you are paying a monthly premium for the health insurance? This is apparently to discourage unnecessary visit to doctors or probably false alarms. How does one determine that, anyway? 

I am still pondering if I need to get health insurance. I have accident and illness insurance. Initially, I did not know where to buy these insurance from. There were so many companies around that offers insurance but I have no one to approach to who could advise me. So, I was advised to get an insurance that was offered by my union. Unions usually have insurance packages. 

Comparison

Of course, there have been many comments about the healthcare in Sweden. Some of the doctors prescribed wrong medicine, the waiting time is long to get a doctor's attention and you do not get an immediate appointment to see the doctor. If you compare to the healthcare in the USA, you need to have an insurance to see a doctor. There is no public healthcare. I suppose you need to be rich to see a doctor in the USA.

In Malaysia, I usually visit clinics or private hospitals (because my previous employer has a list of approved healthcare providers that the employees can visit and do not need to pay until a capped amount). In my previous home-visit, I visited a government clinic in Kuala Lumpur and got very good service, although the queue was long. It costed me RM1 only. This is for however, basic medical problems. For government hospitals, it is very cheap too. 

So, what do you think of the healthcare system?