2025-02-192024/25:SoU14 · p.2SoUHealth & social services
Accessibility to medications
Access to new and costly medicines
What's at stake: Faster access to new medicines can be decisive for patients with conditions that previously had no treatment, while the cost of such medicines at the same time strains regional and national budgets. How the issue is handled therefore affects both individual patients' access to care and the long-term financing of the drug benefit scheme.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government should commission a dedicated inquiry into the Swedish medicines system so patients gain quicker access to new and costly medicines, or whether the work already under way on cost-dampening measures, state subsidies and regulation should simply continue without such a dedicated review.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions. It points to a broad range of work already under way: investments in cost-dampening measures, a new structure for clinical trials and for precision health in the budget bill, an agreement between the state and SKR on the drug benefit scheme, a report on state subsidies for drug costs that is being considered within the Government Offices, and an announced inquiry into folding the drug subsidy into the general state grant to municipalities and regions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (C)
The reservation (C) argues that it is not enough for new medicines to be developed - they must also reach patients. In its view, the Swedish medicines system is not adapted to a situation where drugs are now being developed for conditions that previously had no treatment. It wants the government to launch an inquiry into the medicines system, in dialogue with the pharmaceutical industry, to make it more transparent, efficient and financially sustainable, with clearer central government coordination responsibility.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 4 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/19/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 1/0/89/16 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 1/0/12/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 56/0/0/12 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| SLars Mejern Larsson (S, Värmlands län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| MPLeila Ali Elmi (MP, Göteborgs kommun) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:554 by Birger Lahti et al. (V) demand 14, 2024/25:1923 by Nooshi Dadgostar et al. (V) demand 39, 2024/25:3022 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli et al. (S) demand 75, 2024/25:3053 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP) demand 1 and 2024/25:3166 by Christofer Bergenblock et al. (C) demand 30.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:554 av Birger Lahti m.fl. (V) yrkande 14, 2024/25:1923 av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V) yrkande 39, 2024/25:3022 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S) yrkande 75, 2024/25:3053 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP) yrkande 1 och 2024/25:3166 av Christofer Bergenblock m.fl. (C) yrkande 30.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to approximately 90 proposals on medications and dental care. The proposals were submitted during the general motion period 2024 and deal with, among other things, prescription of medications, review of the pharmacy market and the cost ceiling for dental care. The Riksdag primarily refers to work already underway within the areas covered by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to commission an investigation into the Swedish pharmaceutical system to improve patient access to medicines. (C) — Reservation 4
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires that costs for healthcare and medicines shall be affordable for all and wants the state to own pharmacies and build up its own medicine production—that is, an integrated, publicly controlled medicine system.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that costs for healthcare and medicines shall be affordable for all and wants the state to own pharmacies and build up its own medicine production—that is, an integrated, publicly controlled medicine system. An inquiry for a more transparent system with clearer central coordination responsibility goes in that direction. The election manifesto's criticism that pharmacies have moved from rural areas to cities points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att kostnaderna för vård och läkemedel ska vara överkomliga för alla och vill att staten äger apoteken och bygger upp egen läkemedelsproduktion — det vill säga ett samlat, offentligt styrt läkemedelssystem. En utredning för ett mer transparent system med tydligare centralt samordningsansvar går i den riktningen. Valplattformens kritik av att apoteken flyttat från landsbygd till städer pekar åt samma håll.
- affordable medicine costsdecisive»Kostnaderna för vård och läkemedel ska vara överkomliga för« (party programme ↗)“Costs for healthcare and medicines shall be affordable for”
- state-owned pharmacies»Vi vill att staten äger apoteken och bygger upp en egen kapacitet« (party programme ↗)“We want the state to own pharmacies and build up its own capacity”
- equal medicine availability»att apoteken flyttar från landsbygd till städer och från fattiga till rika områden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that pharmacies move from rural areas to cities and from poor to rich areas”
- state welfare responsibility»Staten har det« (party programme ↗)“The state has the”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's fundamental commitment is that no one shall need to worry about getting timely care and that all throughout the country shall have equivalent access to care; oversight shall be intensified to guarantee quality.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's fundamental commitment is that no one shall need to worry about getting timely care and that all throughout the country shall have equivalent access to care; oversight shall be intensified to guarantee quality. An investigation that shall make the pharmaceutical system more transparent and give clearer central coordination responsibility is in line with the requirement for democratic control over care. The plan does not explicitly mention the pharmaceutical system, but supports the counter-proposal's requirement in substance.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att ingen ska behöva oroa sig för att få vård i tid och att alla i hela landet ska ha likvärdig tillgång till vård; tillsynen ska växlas upp för att garantera kvaliteten. En utredning som ska göra läkemedelssystemet mer transparent och ge tydligare centralt samordningsansvar ligger i linje med kravet på demokratisk kontroll över vården. Planen nämner inte läkemedelssystemet uttryckligen, men stöder motförslagets krav i sak.
- equivalent care throughout the countrydecisive»Alla invånare i hela landet ska ha likvärdig tillgång till skola, vård och omsorg.« (party programme ↗)“All residents throughout the country shall have equivalent access to school, care and welfare.”
- democratic control over care»Ta tillbaka kontrollen över vården.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Take back control over care.”
- strengthened oversight for quality»Tillsynen av sjukvården ska växlas upp för att garantera kvaliteten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Oversight of healthcare shall be intensified to guarantee quality.”
- care distributes life opportunities»Skola, vård och omsorg har en central roll för fördelningen av möjligheter i livet.« (party programme ↗)“School, care and welfare have a central role in the distribution of life opportunities.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that healthcare shall be accessible and distributed according to need and that the most seriously ill shall receive care quickly, which suggests that new pharmaceuticals must actually reach patients.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that healthcare shall be accessible and distributed according to need and that the most seriously ill shall receive care quickly, which suggests that new pharmaceuticals must actually reach patients. At the same time, the plan sees pharmaceutical consumption as a problem for both patient safety and the environment, so support concerns a review for transparency and economic sustainability, not increased volume. A comprehensive investigation of the pharmaceutical system is thus closest to the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att vården ska vara tillgänglig och fördelas efter behov och att de svårast sjuka ska få vård snabbt, vilket talar för att nya läkemedel faktiskt måste nå patienterna. Samtidigt ser planen läkemedelskonsumtionen som ett problem för både patientsäkerhet och miljö, så stödet gäller en översyn för transparens och ekonomisk hållbarhet, inte ökad volym. En samlad utredning av läkemedelssystemet ligger därmed närmast planen.
- care according to needdecisive»vara tillgänglig, fördelas efter behov« (party programme ↗)“be accessible, be distributed according to need”
- the most seriously ill are prioritized»De svårast sjuka ska få vård snabbt.« (party programme ↗)“The most seriously ill shall receive care quickly.”
- restrained pharmaceutical use»läkemedelskonsumtionen i dag är ett problem« (party programme ↗)“pharmaceutical consumption today is a problem”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan places patients' needs and equal healthcare throughout the country first and wants to open for more healthcare providers and greater freedom of choice, which speaks for a review that ensures that new medicines actually reach patients.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan places patients' needs and equal healthcare throughout the country first and wants to open for more healthcare providers and greater freedom of choice, which speaks for a review that ensures that new medicines actually reach patients. At the same time, the plan is clear that responsibility for healthcare must not be moved from the regions to the state, which makes support for clearer central coordination responsibility weaker. On balance, the plan supports the demand, but the basis is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen sätter patientens behov och en likvärdig vård i hela landet främst och vill öppna för fler vårdgivare och större valfrihet, vilket talar för en översyn som säkrar att nya läkemedel faktiskt når patienterna. Samtidigt är planen tydlig med att ansvaret för vården inte ska flyttas från regionerna till staten, vilket gör stödet för ett tydligare centralt samordningsansvar svagare. Sammantaget stöder planen kravet, men underlaget är svagt.
- patient needs at centredecisive»Vi vill öppna upp för fler vårdgivare och öka valfriheten så att patienter tillsammans med sin läkare kan välja vårdgivare och tid då operation eller behandling passar bäst utifrån patientens behov.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to open up for more healthcare providers and increase freedom of choice so that patients together with their doctor can choose healthcare provider and time when operation or treatment is best for the patient based on patients' needs.”
- equal healthcare nationwide»Sjukvården bör ta hänsyn till att människor är olika och att förutsättningarna ser olika ut i olika delar av landet, men alla ska vara trygga med att få en likvärdig vård.« (party programme ↗)“Healthcare should take into account that people are different and conditions differ in different parts of the country, but everyone should feel secure in receiving equal healthcare.”
- equal public financing»Det som det offentliga finansierar ska vara likvärdigt för alla och med samma goda kvalitet till alla.« (party programme ↗)“What the public finances must be equal for all and of the same high quality for all.”
- regional healthcare responsibility»Ansvaret för vården ska inte flyttas från regionerna till staten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Responsibility for healthcare must not be moved from the regions to the state.”
The election manifesto demands a broad review of healthcare organization and financing and that the state takes greater responsibility for strategic planning, highly specialized care and preparedness – precisely the comprehensive approach with clearer central coordination responsibility that the counter-proposal wants to investigate.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands a broad review of healthcare organization and financing and that the state takes greater responsibility for strategic planning, highly specialized care and preparedness – precisely the comprehensive approach with clearer central coordination responsibility that the counter-proposal wants to investigate. The party programme adds that care shall be equal and that power shall be shifted towards patients, which speaks for new medicines actually reaching patients. The plan therefore supports the requirement, though without mentioning the medicine system explicitly.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver en bred översyn av vårdens organisering och finansiering och att staten tar ett större ansvar för strategisk planering, högspecialiserad vård och beredskap – alltså just det samlade grepp med tydligare centralt samordningsansvar som motförslaget vill utreda. Partiprogrammet lägger till att vården ska vara jämlik och att makten ska förskjutas till patienten, vilket talar för att nya läkemedel faktiskt ska nå patienterna. Planen stöder därför kravet, om än utan att nämna läkemedelssystemet uttryckligen.
- broad review of healthcaredecisive»Det behövs en bred översyn av vårdens organisering och finansiering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There is a need for a broad review of healthcare organization and financing.”
- state coordination responsibility»Staten ska ta ett större ansvar för sjukvårdens strategiska planering, placering av högspecialiserad vård, beredskap och långsiktig kompetensförsörjning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state shall take greater responsibility for strategic planning, placement of highly specialized care, preparedness and long-term workforce development in healthcare.”
- equal access to care»Vården ska vara jämlik.« (party programme ↗)“Care shall be equal.”
- patient's position strengthened»Det behövs en maktförskjutning inom hälso- och sjukvården till patienterna.« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for a shift in power within healthcare towards patients.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto's key healthcare commitment is to replace 21 healthcare operators with a state, unified responsibility for equitable care throughout the country, which directly speaks for the counter-proposal's requirement for clearer central coordination responsibility.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto's key healthcare commitment is to replace 21 healthcare operators with a state, unified responsibility for equitable care throughout the country, which directly speaks for the counter-proposal's requirement for clearer central coordination responsibility. The party programme also requires that care financed through social solidarity is fit for purpose and cost-effective and that new medicines are covered by the system. An investigation of the drug system thus points in the direction of the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestets bärande sjukvårdsåtagande är att ersätta 21 huvudmän med ett statligt, samlat ansvar för jämlik vård i hela landet, vilket direkt talar för motförslagets krav på tydligare centralt samordningsansvar. Partiprogrammet kräver dessutom att den solidariskt finansierade vården är ändamålsenlig och kostnadseffektiv och att nya läkemedel omfattas av systemet. En utredning av läkemedelssystemet ligger därför i planens riktning.
- state unified care responsibilitydecisive»Avskaffa regionernas ansvar för sjukvården. Låt staten ta över ansvaret för vården med en gemensam organisation i stället för 21 olika.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Abolish the regions' responsibility for healthcare. Let the state take over responsibility for care with a unified organization instead of 21 different ones.”
- equitable care throughout the country»Var i landet du bor ska inte avgöra vilken sjukvård du får.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where in the country you live must not determine what healthcare you receive.”
- cost-effective evidence-based care»Den solidariskt finansierade hälso- och sjukvården ska vara ändamålsenlig och kostnadseffektiv, säker för patienterna och baserad på kunskap och beprövad erfarenhet« (party programme ↗)“Care financed through social solidarity must be fit for purpose and cost-effective, safe for patients and based on knowledge and proven experience”
- new medicines must reach patients»Nya och hälsoekonomiska läkemedel utvecklas ständigt« (party programme ↗)“New and health-economic medicines are constantly being developed”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan points to accessibility as Swedish healthcare's main problem and highlights particularly that patients get poorer access to new medicines.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan points to accessibility as Swedish healthcare's main problem and highlights particularly that patients get poorer access to new medicines. Queues and unequal access are described as a failure to be remedied. An investigation that should make the medicine system more transparent and efficient so that new medicines reach patients therefore aligns with the plan, even though the plan does not mention such an investigation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar ut tillgänglighet som svensk sjukvårds huvudproblem och lyfter särskilt att patienter får sämre tillgång till nya läkemedel. Köer och ojämlik tillgång beskrivs som ett misslyckande som ska åtgärdas. En utredning som ska göra läkemedelssystemet mer transparent och effektivt så att nya läkemedel når patienterna ligger därför i linje med planen, även om planen inte nämner en sådan utredning.
- access to new medicinesdecisive»Kvinnor får senare diagnos, sämre tillgång till nya läkemedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Women get later diagnosis, poorer access to new medicines”
- equal care»Alla har rätt till likvärdig vård« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone has the right to equal care”
- strengthened care guarantee»Införa en förstärkt vårdgaranti för cancerpatienter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a strengthened care guarantee for cancer patients”
- queues are a failure»Köer till välfärdstjänster är ett misslyckande« (party programme ↗)“Queues for welfare services are a failure”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan points to governance via 21 regions as the main problem in healthcare and wants to review the organization of care and let the state to a greater degree take overall responsibility.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan points to governance via 21 regions as the main problem in healthcare and wants to review the organization of care and let the state to a greater degree take overall responsibility. The counter-proposal's requirement for an inquiry into the pharmaceutical system with clearer central coordination responsibility lies directly in that direction. The plan also emphasizes that inadequate accessibility leads to patients receiving care at a worsened disease stage.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar ut styrningen via 21 regioner som huvudproblemet i sjukvården och vill se över vårdens organisation samt låta staten i högre grad ta över huvudansvaret. Motförslagets krav på en utredning av läkemedelssystemet med tydligare centralt samordningsansvar ligger direkt i den linjen. Planen betonar också att bristande tillgänglighet leder till att patienter får vård i ett förvärrat sjukdomsstadium.
- criticism of divided governancedecisive»Huvudproblemet handlar i betydande utsträckning om att styrningen via 21 olika regioner skapar otydlighet, målkonflikter, successivt ökande administration och brister i kompetensförsörjningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The main problem is to a significant extent that governance via 21 different regions creates ambiguity, goal conflicts, gradually increasing administration and shortcomings in skills supply.”
- state overall responsibility for healthcare»Sverigedemokraterna vill också se över hur staten i större utsträckning kan ta över huvudansvaret för sjukvården, med utgångspunkt i framgångsrika exempel i Norge och Danmark.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats also want to review how the state to a greater extent can take overall responsibility for healthcare, based on successful examples in Norway and Denmark.”
- review of the organization of care»Se över sjukvårdens organisation« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Review the organization of healthcare”
- accessible care in time»Bristerna leder till att patienter ofta får vård i ett senare och ofta förvärrat sjukdomsstadium än vad som hade varit möjligt med en mer tillgänglig vård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shortcomings lead to patients often receiving care at a later and often worsened disease stage than would have been possible with more accessible healthcare.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:SoU14)
- Committee report full text (HC01SoU14)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:114 — Miljömärkning av läkemedel av Björn Tidland (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1335 — Tandvård för alla av Niklas Karlsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1355 — En stark tandvård med välmående personal av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1359 — En jämlik diabetesvård i hela landet av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1362 — En stärkt psykisk hälsa i hela landet av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1394 — Kemikaliepolitik av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1520 — Omreglering av apoteksmarknaden av Malin Larsson och Anna-Belle Strömberg (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:1666 — Högkostnadsskydd för tandvård av Gunilla Svantorp och Sofia Skönnbrink (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:1668 — Tandvård för ungdomar av Sofia Skönnbrink och Aida Birinxhiku (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:1672 — Tandhälsa av Jonathan Svensson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1680 — Forskningskrav på medicintekniska hjälpmedel av Sanne Lennström m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1683 — Trygg välfärd utan privat vinstintresse av Johanna Haraldsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1684 — Ett jämlikt tandvårdssystem och behovet av fler tandläkare av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1691 — Ökningen av antidepressiv medicin och adhd-mediciner till barn av Caroline Helmersson Olsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1905 — En starkare folkhälsa av Karin Rågsjö m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1923 — En bättre hälso- och sjukvård av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:195 — Konsumenträtt av Andreas Lennkvist Manriquez m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1962 — Förfalskade läkemedel av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2090 — Framtidens apotek av Noria Manouchi m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2125 — Rätten till god munhälsa av Sanna Backeskog m.fl. (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament