2024-05-162023/24:SoU21 · p.3SoUHealth & social services
A commission for healthcare personnel procurement
Setting up a national commission on staffing supply in healthcare and social care
What's at stake: The shortage of trained staff in healthcare and social care is expected to persist and in several areas become acute during the mandate period, affecting both patients/users and staff who are already under heavy strain. The decision determines whether the issue is addressed through a new, broad initiative or continues to be handled within ongoing agency assignments.
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 a dedicated national commission should be set up to address staff shortages in healthcare, elder care and social services, or whether the work should continue within existing assignments and bodies such as the National Council for Healthcare Competence Supply.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion for a dedicated commission on staffing supply. It points to work already under way - including the National Council for Healthcare Competence Supply's assignment to draw up a national plan for healthcare staffing - and considers that the Riksdag should not pre-empt that work by setting up an additional body.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 5 (S, V, MP)
The reservation (S, V, MP) argues that the staff shortage in healthcare, elder care, dental care and social services is so serious and multifaceted that it requires broad consensus and a joint national initiative, rather than being split across several separate government assignments. It therefore calls for a commission on staffing supply for the welfare sector to be set up, with the government acting accordingly.
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 5 by S, V, MP.
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 | No 0/19/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/13/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2023/24:2617 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli et al. (S) item 4.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2617 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S) yrkande 4.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 90 proposals in motions on competence procurement, e-health and preparedness that were submitted during the general motion period 2023. The motions dealt, among other things, with training of personnel in occupational health services, competence procurement and authorization, work environment, life science issues, care in sparsely populated areas and healthcare preparedness. The Riksdag referred, among other things, to ongoing work in the area.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to secure adequate coordination and long-term financing of training for occupational physicians and nurses. (S, V, MP) — Reservation 5
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 the staff shortage in care be eliminated and that society takes greater responsibility for working conditions in the female-dominated professions of the welfare sector, while the state is responsible for ensuring that there is trained staff throughout the country.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the staff shortage in care be eliminated and that society takes greater responsibility for working conditions in the female-dominated professions of the welfare sector, while the state is responsible for ensuring that there is trained staff throughout the country. It also emphasizes that the staff's own knowledge must be utilized. A unified national initiative in the form of a special committee for workforce supply addresses that, instead of scattered assignments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att personalbristen i vård och omsorg byggs bort och att samhället tar ett större ansvar för arbetsvillkoren i välfärdens kvinnodominerade yrken, samtidigt som staten ansvarar för att det finns utbildad profession i hela landet. Den betonar också att personalens egen kunskap måste tas tillvara. Ett samlat nationellt initiativ i form av en särskild beredning för personalförsörjningen svarar mot det, i stället för spridda uppdrag.
- eliminate the staff shortagedecisive»Därför vill Vänsterpartiet satsa mer resurser på hälso- och sjukvården och äldreomsorgen, samt satsa på personalen så att vi samtidigt får bort personalbristen och stärker personalens villkor och arbetsmiljö.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore the Left Party wants to invest more resources in health care and elderly care, and invest in staff so that we at the same time eliminate the staff shortage and strengthen staff conditions and working environment.”
- society's responsibility for welfare workplaces»Vi vill att samhället tar ett större ansvar för att arbetsplatserna i« (party programme ↗)“We want society to take greater responsibility for workplaces in”
- the state's responsibility for the profession»det finns utbildad profession i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“there is trained staff throughout the country.”
- staff knowledge should be utilized»Dessa samhällsbärare förtjänar att bli lyssnade på.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“These societal contributors deserve to be listened to.”
The election manifesto states that the state has a responsibility to secure the supply of skills, not least in welfare, and links it to education dimensioning and better working conditions – precisely the reasons the counter-proposal points to.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that the state has a responsibility to secure the supply of skills, not least in welfare, and links it to education dimensioning and better working conditions – precisely the reasons the counter-proposal points to. A joint national initiative in the form of an inquiry is a means of fulfilling that state responsibility. However, the plan does not specify such an organisational form.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att staten har ett ansvar för att säkra kompetensförsörjningen, inte minst i välfärden, och kopplar det till utbildningsdimensionering och bättre arbetsvillkor - precis de orsaker motförslaget pekar på. Ett gemensamt nationellt initiativ i form av en beredning är ett medel för det statliga ansvaret. Planen anger dock ingen sådan organisationsform.
- state responsibility for skills supplydecisive»Säkerställ att det finns utbildad personal att anställa. Staten har ett ansvar för att säkra kompetensförsörjningen, inte minst i välfärden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure that there is trained staff to employ. The state has a responsibility to secure the supply of skills, not least in welfare.”
- better working conditions»Arbetsvillkoren i välfärden måste spegla hur centrala jobben är för att samhället ska fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Working conditions in welfare must reflect how central these jobs are for society to function.”
- more specialist-trained staff»mer stöd till specialistutbildningar i vården, exempelvis för sjuksköterskor och undersköterskor« (2022 manifesto ↗)“more support for specialist education in healthcare, for example for nurses and nursing assistants”
- equal healthcare throughout the country»Alla invånare i hela landet ska ha likvärdig tillgång till skola, vård och omsorg.« (party programme ↗)“All residents throughout the country shall have equal access to school, healthcare and care.”
The election manifesto makes the upgrading of care and welfare occupations an explicit commitment: higher wages and good working environment in care and equal pay in female-dominated occupations.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto makes the upgrading of care and welfare occupations an explicit commitment: higher wages and good working environment in care and equal pay in female-dominated occupations. The counter-proposal's demand for a comprehensive national effort on welfare's staffing aligns with that commitment and with the demand for increased staffing in care. The plan speaks to the substantive issue, not to the form the matter should be considered.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet gör uppvärderingen av vård- och omsorgsyrkena till ett eget åtagande: högre löner och god arbetsmiljö i vården samt jämställda löner i kvinnodominerade yrken. Motförslagets krav på ett samlat nationellt grepp om välfärdens personalförsörjning ligger i linje med det åtagandet och med kravet på ökad bemanning i omsorgen. Planen uttalar sig om sakfrågan, inte om i vilken form frågan bör beredas.
- upgrade care occupationsdecisive»höja lönerna och säkra en god arbetsmiljö i vården« (2022 manifesto ↗)“raise wages and secure a good working environment in care”
- equal pay in welfare»höja lönerna i kvinnodominerade yrken till samma nivåer som i mansdominerade yrken med motsvarande ansvar och utbildningskrav« (2022 manifesto ↗)“raise wages in female-dominated occupations to the same levels as male-dominated occupations with equivalent responsibility and educational requirements”
- strengthened resources for care»förbättra vård och omsorg för äldre och stärka resurserna till hemsjukvården« (2022 manifesto ↗)“improve care and support for older people and strengthen resources for community health services”
- increased staffing in care»satsning på ökad bemanning genererar nya jobb« (party programme ↗)“increased staffing generates new jobs”
The plan makes care and welfare that puts employees at the centre a main priority and promises concrete actions to recruit and retain staff.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes care and welfare that puts employees at the centre a main priority and promises concrete actions to recruit and retain staff. A coordinated national approach to personnel supply in welfare corresponds to precisely that priority, instead of several separate assignments. The plan does however not want to move care responsibility from regions to the state, which sets a limit on how controlling such an organ can become.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör vård och omsorg som sätter medarbetarna i centrum till en huvudprioritering och lovar konkreta åtgärder för att rekrytera och behålla personal. Ett samlat nationellt grepp om personalförsörjningen i välfärden svarar mot just den prioriteringen, i stället för flera separata uppdrag. Planen vill dock inte flytta ansvaret för vården från regionerna till staten, vilket sätter en gräns för hur styrande ett sådant organ får bli.
- employees at the centredecisive»Sverige behöver en vård och omsorg som sätter patienter, brukare och medarbetare i centrum. Det är en huvudprioritering för Centerpartiet inför nästa mandatperiod.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs care and welfare that puts patients, users, and employees at the centre. It is a main priority for the Centre Party for the next term of office.”
- recruit more nurses»Vi vill rekrytera fler sjuksköterskor genom att införa en examenspremie och ge lön under specialiststudietiden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to recruit more nurses by introducing an examination bonus and providing salary during specialist studies.”
- skills development in care»Den som jobbar i vård och omsorg ska kunna växa och vidareutvecklas i sitt yrke.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Those who work in care and welfare shall be able to grow and develop further in their profession.”
- regional stewardship»Ansvaret för vården ska inte flyttas från regionerna till staten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Care responsibility shall not be moved from regions to the state.”
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 gives the state an explicit responsibility for healthcare's long-term competence supply and requires a national mobilization for more staffed care places.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives the state an explicit responsibility for healthcare's long-term competence supply and requires a national mobilization for more staffed care places. A joint national initiative for personnel supply in welfare thus aligns with the plan's requirement for coordinated national control instead of scattered efforts. The plan does not mention the organizational form preparation specifically, but the substantive requirement is supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger staten ett uttalat ansvar för sjukvårdens långsiktiga kompetensförsörjning och kräver en nationell kraftsamling för fler bemannade vårdplatser. Ett gemensamt nationellt initiativ för personalförsörjningen i välfärden ligger därmed i linje med planens krav på samlad nationell styrning i stället för spridda insatser. Planen nämner inte just organisationsformen beredning, men sakkravet stöds.
- state responsibility for competence supplydecisive»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 healthcare's strategic planning, placement of highly specialized care, preparedness and long-term competence supply.”
- national mobilization in healthcare»Vi vill därför nästa mandatperiod se en nationell kraftsamling för fler bemannade vårdplatser i hela landet så att du som patient kan få vård snabbare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We therefore want to see a national mobilization for more staffed care places throughout the country in the next term of office so that you as a patient can get healthcare faster.”
- good working conditions in healthcare»För att klara det måste de som arbetar inom vården mötas av goda arbetsvillkor, fler kollegor och bra löneutveckling.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To manage that, those who work in healthcare must be met with good working conditions, more colleagues and good wage development.”
- further education for healthcare staff»Personal i legitimationsyrken ska ha rätt till fortbildning under hela yrkeslivet och alltid« (party programme ↗)“Staff in licensed professions shall have the right to further education throughout their professional life and always”
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 promises to train more staff, improve conditions in healthcare's shortage occupations and reduce the need for expensive temporary workers, which is the same problem the counter-proposal wants to handle.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises to train more staff, improve conditions in healthcare's shortage occupations and reduce the need for expensive temporary workers, which is the same problem the counter-proposal wants to handle. The manifesto also wants to replace the fragmented regional organization with unified national responsibility, which speaks for a joint national approach rather than multiple separate assignments. The commitments about better conditions and continuous skills development in care point in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar att utbilda mer personal, förbättra villkoren i vårdens bristyrken och minska behovet av dyr inhyrd personal, vilket är samma problem motförslaget vill hantera. Manifestet vill dessutom ersätta den splittrade regionala organisationen med ett samlat nationellt ansvar, vilket talar för ett gemensamt nationellt grepp framför flera separata uppdrag. Åtagandena om bättre villkor och kontinuerlig kompetensutveckling i omsorgen pekar åt samma håll.
- train and retain care staffdecisive»Utbilda mer personal för sjukvården. Förbättrade villkor i vårdens bristyrken och minska behovet av dyr inhyrd personal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Train more staff for healthcare. Improved conditions in healthcare's shortage occupations and reduce the need for expensive temporary workers.”
- nationally coordinated healthcare responsibility»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 healthcare with a shared organization instead of 21 different ones.”
- better conditions in care»Förbättrade villkor för personalen i äldreomsorgen - bort med delade turer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Improved conditions for staff in elderly care - away with split shifts.”
- continuous skills development»Säkerställ att personal inom hemtjänst och äldreboenden har möjlighet till kontinuerlig kompetensutveckling.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure that staff in home care and nursing homes have the opportunity for continuous skills development.”
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 commits explicitly to get in place national coordination of society's needs for education spots to improve competency supply, and to strengthen care workers since more hands are needed in care.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits explicitly to get in place national coordination of society's needs for education spots to improve competency supply, and to strengthen care workers since more hands are needed in care. A joint national initiative for personnel supply in welfare answers precisely that commitment, instead of several separate assignments. The plan does not, however, specify the form of coordination.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig uttryckligen att få på plats en nationell samordning över samhällets behov av utbildningsplatser för att förbättra kompetensförsörjningen, och att stärka vårdens medarbetare eftersom det behövs fler händer i vården. Ett gemensamt nationellt initiativ för personalförsörjningen i välfärden svarar mot just det åtagandet, i stället för flera separata uppdrag. Planen anger dock inte formen för samordningen.
- national competency coordinationdecisive»Få på plats en nationell samordning över samhällets behov av antalet utbildningsplatser för att förbättra kompetensförsörjningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Get in place national coordination of society's need for the number of education spots to improve competency supply”
- more hands in care»Stärka vårdens medarbetare, bland annat genom att förbättra arbetsmiljön och möjligheterna till vidareutbildning – det behövs fler händer i vården som kan korta vårdköerna och avlasta personalen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen care workers, including by improving working environment and opportunities for further training - more hands are needed in care to shorten care queues and relieve staff”
- expertise in care»Den medicinska kompetensen och kontinuiteten måste stärkas inom äldreomsorgen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Medical expertise and continuity must be strengthened in elderly care.”
- accessible welfare»Köer till välfärdstjänster är ett misslyckande« (party programme ↗)“Queues for welfare services are a failure”
flags: citat_migrerat
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 out shortcomings in skills supply as a main problem in healthcare's fragmented governance, wants to review the organization of healthcare and relieve healthcare staff of administration.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan points out shortcomings in skills supply as a main problem in healthcare's fragmented governance, wants to review the organization of healthcare and relieve healthcare staff of administration. A joint national initiative for skills supply in welfare aligns with the plan's requirement for unified healthcare, rather than several separate agency mandates.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar ut brister i kompetensförsörjningen som ett huvudproblem i vårdens splittrade styrning, vill se över sjukvårdens organisation och avlasta vårdgivande personal administration. Ett gemensamt nationellt initiativ för personalförsörjningen i välfärden ligger i linje med planens krav på en sammanhållen sjukvård, snarare än flera separata myndighetsuppdrag.
- shortcomings in skills supplydecisive»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 lack of clarity, target conflicts, successively increasing administration and shortcomings in skills supply.”
- unified healthcare»Se över sjukvårdens organisation« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Review the organization of healthcare”
- relieved healthcare staff»Administrativa uppgifter bör i ökad utsträckning avlastas från vårdgivande personal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Administrative tasks should to an increasing extent be relieved from healthcare staff.”
- expanded healthcare capacity»Öka antalet vårdplatser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the number of hospital beds”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU21)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU21)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1002 — Rätt till tolk inom hälso- och sjukvården av Helén Pettersson och Åsa Karlsson (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1041 — Digital vård av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1084 — Bemötande av våldsutsatta kvinnor av Azra Muranovic m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1092 — Svenskar i utlandet av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1127 — En sömlös vård av Helena Storckenfeldt och Lars Püss (båda M)
- Motion 2023/24:1172 — Integritetsskydd vid Ivo-anmälningar av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1191 — Internationellt kris- och hälsosamarbete av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1208 — Nationella beredskapslager av Ann-Christine Frohm Utterstedt och Eric Westroth (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1239 — Delegationer i sjukvården av Martina Johansson (C)
- Motion 2023/24:128 — Betalningsansvar för outnyttjade tolktjänster av Eric Palmqvist (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1348 — Begränsning av bemanningsföretagen i vården av Peder Björk m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1393 — Gemensamt it-system i vården av Peter Ollén (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1538 — Marknadsföring av nätläkare av Johan Löfstrand m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1584 — Legitimation eller skyddad yrkestitel för ortoptister av Ulrik Nilsson (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1682 — Anonymisering av sjukvårdspersonal i patientjournaler av Eric Westroth (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1812 — Osteopati av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist (C)
- Motion 2023/24:19 — Insyn i barns läkemedelslista av Ann-Christine From Utterstedt (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1929 — En nationell digital infrastruktur för sjukvård och äldreomsorg av Gunilla Carlsson och Amalia Rud Pedersen (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:2069 — En stärkt psykisk hälsa i hela landet av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2072 — Folkhälsan i fokus av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament