2024-01-312023/24:SoU12 · p.1SoUHealth & social services
Accessibility to medicines
Access to medicines across the country
What's at stake: The decision affects patients hit by medicine shortages or waiting for access to orphan drugs for rare diseases, and how quickly a dedicated national strategy and changed financing could shorten waiting times compared with relying on ongoing agency work.
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 be tasked with drawing up a dedicated national strategy and changed medicine financing to more quickly secure access to medicines, including orphan drugs, nationwide, or whether the ongoing work on a medicines strategy and shortage management is judged sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee points to ongoing work to prevent shortage situations, a national situational picture, and a renewed national medicines strategy covering available medicines and equitable use, as well as earlier announcements on equal introduction of new treatment methods and dedicated financing for rare diseases, and does not consider that the Riksdag should take any further initiative; the motions are rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (C, MP)
The reservation wants to make it easier for people across the country to access the medicines they need, given the global medicine shortage and the shortage of pharmacists, by having the government draw up a strategy for strengthened medicine access and change medicine financing so that orphan drugs quickly and easily reach the patients who need them.
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 2 by C, 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 | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 94/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | 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 | Abstain 0/0/63/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:865 by Lars Mejern Larsson (S), 2023/24:1062 by Aylin Nouri (S), 2023/24:2064 by Carina Ståhl Herrstedt et al. (SD) motion 2 and 2023/24:2493 by Christofer Bergenblock et al. (C) motions 35 and 36.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:865 av Lars Mejern Larsson (S), 2023/24:1062 av Aylin Nouri (S), 2023/24:2064 av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD) yrkande 2 och 2023/24:2493 av Christofer Bergenblock m.fl. (C) yrkandena 35 och 36.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to approximately 70 motions about medicines and dental care from the general motion period of 2023. The motions address, for example, accessibility to medicines, medical technology products, review of the pharmacy market, and financing of dental care. The Riksdag considers, among other things, that work is already underway in the areas that the motions address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to make it easier for people throughout the country to access medicines and change the financing of special medicines. (C, MP) — Reservation 2
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 notes that in large parts of the country it is difficult to obtain medicine and that privatization has moved pharmacies from rural areas to cities, and requires that healthcare is equitable and accessible regardless of where you live.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan notes that in large parts of the country it is difficult to obtain medicine and that privatization has moved pharmacies from rural areas to cities, and requires that healthcare is equitable and accessible regardless of where you live. A particular strategy to strengthen medicine supply across the country and funding that makes special medicines accessible to those who need them follows from healthcare being provided according to need. The plan does not address the ongoing strategy work the committee refers to.
Original (Swedish)
Planen konstaterar att det i stora delar av landet är svårt att få tag på medicin och att privatiseringen flyttat apoteken från landsbygd till stad, och kräver att vården är jämlik och tillgänglig oavsett var man bor. En särskild strategi för att stärka läkemedelstillgången i hela landet och en finansiering som gör särläkemedel tillgängliga för dem som behöver dem följer av att vård ska ges efter behov. Planen berör inte det pågående strategiarbete utskottet hänvisar till.
- unequal medicine supplydecisive»I stora delar av Sverige är det svårt att få tag på medicin, fast i storstädernas rikare områden finns det flera olika apotek i varje gathörn.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In large parts of Sweden it is difficult to obtain medicine, yet in rich areas of major cities there are several different pharmacies on every corner.”
- equitable healthcare across the country»Sjukvården måste vara jämlik, jämställd och tillgänglig, oavsett var i landet du bor och oavsett vem du är.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Healthcare must be equitable, non-discriminatory and accessible, regardless of where in the country you live and regardless of who you are.”
- healthcare according to need»Vård måste ges efter människors behov och inte efter kapaciteten i felaktigt konstruerade system.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Healthcare must be provided according to people's needs and not according to capacity in incorrectly designed systems.”
- consequences of privatization»Privatiseringar har lett till dyrare elpris, att apoteken flyttar från landsbygd till städer och från fattiga till rika områden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Privatization has led to more expensive electricity prices, pharmacies moving from rural areas to cities and from poor to rich areas”
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 wants to build supply buffers for healthcare and states that everyone throughout the country shall have equal access to care distributed according to need.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to build supply buffers for healthcare and states that everyone throughout the country shall have equal access to care distributed according to need. The counter-proposal's requirement for a strategy for medication supply throughout the country and financing that makes special medicines available to those who need them follow from these commitments. The plan addresses the substantive issue, not whether existing strategies are sufficient.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill bygga beredskapslager för sjukvården och slår fast att alla i hela landet ska ha likvärdig tillgång till vård fördelad efter behov. Motförslagets krav på en strategi för läkemedelstillgång i hela landet och en finansiering som gör särläkemedel tillgängliga för dem som behöver dem följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen talar om sakfrågan, inte om huruvida befintliga strategier räcker.
- supply buffers for healthcaredecisive»ökade resurser för att rusta och bygga beredskapslager för sjukvården« (2022 manifesto ↗)“increased resources to strengthen and build supply buffers for healthcare”
- 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.”
- distribution according to need»välfärdstjänsterna fördelas efter behov.« (party programme ↗)“welfare services are distributed according to need.”
- care in time»Ingen ska behöva känna oro över att få vård i tid.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“No one shall have to worry about receiving care in time.”
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 requires better support for persons with rare diagnoses regardless of where in the country they live and stipulates that everyone has the right to good healthcare regardless of residence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires better support for persons with rare diagnoses regardless of where in the country they live and stipulates that everyone has the right to good healthcare regardless of residence. The party programme wants healthcare to be accessible and distributed according to need. A strategy for strengthened pharmaceutical supply across the country and financing that makes specialty medicines quickly accessible therefore follows from the plan's commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver bättre stöd för personer med sällsynta diagnoser oavsett var i landet man bor och slår fast att alla har rätt till bra vård oberoende av bostadsort. Partiprogrammet vill att vården är tillgänglig och fördelas efter behov. En strategi för stärkt läkemedelstillgång i hela landet och en finansiering som gör särläkemedel snabbt tillgängliga följer därför av planens åtaganden.
- support for rare diagnosesdecisive»förbättra stödet för personer med funktionsnedsättning och sällsynta diagnoser oavsett var du bor i landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“improve support for persons with disabilities and rare diagnoses regardless of where you live in the country.”
- equal healthcare across the country»Du ska ha rätt till en bra vård, oavsett var i landet du bor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“You have the right to good healthcare, regardless of where in the country you live.”
- accessible healthcare according to need»kvalitet, vara tillgänglig, fördelas efter behov och« (party programme ↗)“quality, be accessible, be distributed according to need and”
- individualised adapted care»Alla har rätt till en individuell vård« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has the right to individualised care”
The election manifesto requires that all residents have access to equivalent and reliable welfare regardless of where they live, and the party programme that all are guaranteed access to healthcare and can be assured of receiving equivalent care.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that all residents have access to equivalent and reliable welfare regardless of where they live, and the party programme that all are guaranteed access to healthcare and can be assured of receiving equivalent care. Shortage situations and unequal access to specialised medicines are in conflict with this. The counter-proposal's requirement for a strategy for medicine supply throughout the country and changed financing of specialised medicines is therefore supported by the plan. The plan does not state anything about the ongoing medicine strategy.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att alla invånare har tillgång till en likvärdig och pålitlig välfärd oavsett var de bor, och partiprogrammet att alla garanteras tillgång till sjukvård och kan vara trygga med att få en likvärdig vård. Bristsituationer och ojämlik tillgång till särläkemedel står i strid med detta. Motförslagets krav på en strategi för läkemedelstillgång i hela landet och ändrad finansiering av särläkemedel stöds därför av planen. Planen uttalar sig inte om den pågående läkemedelsstrategin.
- equivalent welfare throughout the countrydecisive»Alla invånare ska ha tillgång till en likvärdig och pålitlig välfärd oavsett var de bor, och den offentliga servicen ska finnas där när man behöver den.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All residents shall have access to equivalent and reliable welfare regardless of where they live, and public services shall be there when you need them.”
- equivalent care»men alla ska vara trygga med att få en likvärdig vård.« (party programme ↗)“but all should be assured of receiving equivalent care.”
- guaranteed access to healthcare»Alla människor ska garanteras tillgång till sjukvård, utbildning och omsorg« (party programme ↗)“All people shall be guaranteed access to healthcare, education and care”
- preparedness in the supply chain»Även det civila försvaret är livsviktigt. Vi måste rusta civilförsvaret och samhällets beredskap inför krig och kris.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Civil defence is also vital. We must equip civil defence and society's preparedness for war and crisis.”
The plan wants the state to take greater responsibility for healthcare's strategic planning and preparedness and that expanded national coordination in particular improves care opportunities for rare diagnoses and access across the country.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants the state to take greater responsibility for healthcare's strategic planning and preparedness and that expanded national coordination in particular improves care opportunities for rare diagnoses and access across the country. The counter-proposal's demands for a strategy for medicine supply across the country and financing that quickly makes specialist medicines accessible follow from these commitments and from the demand for equitable care.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att staten tar ett större ansvar för sjukvårdens strategiska planering och beredskap och att en utökad nationell samordning särskilt förbättrar vårdmöjligheterna för sällsynta diagnoser och tillgången i hela landet. Motförslagets krav på en strategi för läkemedelstillgång i hela landet och en finansiering som snabbt gör särläkemedel tillgängliga följer av dessa åtaganden och av kravet på jämlik vård.
- state responsibility for planning and preparednessdecisive»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 specialised care, preparedness and long-term competence supply.”
- care for rare diagnoses»vårdmöjligheterna för sällsynta diagnoser och ökar tillgången till hälso- och sjukvård i landets« (party programme ↗)“care opportunities for rare diagnoses and increase access to healthcare in the country”
- equitable care»Vården ska vara jämlik.« (party programme ↗)“Care shall be equitable.”
- review of healthcare financing»Det behövs en bred översyn av vårdens organisering och finansiering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A broad review of healthcare's organisation and financing is needed.”
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 core commitment is that where you live in the country should not determine what care you receive, and the party programme establishes that everyone shall be able to rely on care being available when needed.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto's core commitment is that where you live in the country should not determine what care you receive, and the party programme establishes that everyone shall be able to rely on care being available when needed. The counter-proposal's requirements for a strategy for medication supply across the country and financing that quickly makes specialized medicines available follow from the principle of need and the requirement for appropriate, safe care.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestets bärande åtagande är att var i landet man bor inte ska avgöra vilken vård man får, och principprogrammet slår fast att alla ska kunna förlita sig på att vården finns när den behövs. Motförslagets krav på en strategi för läkemedelstillgång i hela landet och en finansiering som snabbt gör särläkemedel tillgängliga följer av behovsprincipen och kravet på ändamålsenlig, säker vård.
- equitable care across the countrydecisive»Var i landet du bor ska inte avgöra vilken sjukvård du får.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where you live in the country should not determine what healthcare you receive.”
- access to care when needed»Alla ska kunna förlita sig på att den vård och omsorg man en dag kommer att behöva då står till förfogande.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone shall be able to rely on the care and support they one day will need being available to them.”
- the principle of need requires prioritization»en hälso- och sjukvård byggd på människovärdes- och behovsprincipen kräver prioriteringar.« (party programme ↗)“healthcare built on the principles of human dignity and need requires prioritization.”
- appropriate and safe care»Den solidariskt finansierade hälso- och sjukvården ska vara ändamålsenlig och kostnadseffektiv, säker för patienterna« (party programme ↗)“The solidarily funded healthcare should be appropriate and cost-effective, safe for 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 plan explicitly commits to building better emergency stocks of medicines and medical equipment and establishes that care shall be equivalent and function regardless of where in the country one lives.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly commits to building better emergency stocks of medicines and medical equipment and establishes that care shall be equivalent and function regardless of where in the country one lives. The counter-proposal's demand for a strategy for strengthened medicine supply across the country and faster access to specialised medicines is in line with these commitments. The plan does not however mention the financing model for specialised medicines.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig uttryckligen att bygga upp bättre beredskapslager av läkemedel och sjukvårdsmateriel och slår fast att vården ska vara likvärdig och fungera oavsett var i landet man bor. Motförslagets krav på en strategi för stärkt läkemedelstillgång i hela landet och snabbare tillgång till särläkemedel ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen nämner däremot inte finansieringsmodellen för särläkemedel.
- medicine emergency stocksdecisive»behöver Sverige bygga upp bättre beredskapslager av till exempel läkemedel och sjukvårdsmateriel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs to build better emergency stocks of for example medicines and medical equipment.”
- equivalent care in time»Alla har rätt till likvärdig vård – som kan ges i rätt tid och håller hög kvalitet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone has the right to equivalent care - which can be provided in the right time and holds high quality.”
- welfare in the whole country»Du ska kunna känna dig trygg med att välfärden fungerar oavsett var i landet du bor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“You shall be able to feel secure that welfare functions regardless of where in the country you live.”
- better emergency stocks»Bygga bättre beredskapslager« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Build better emergency stocks”
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 requires that Sweden's self-sufficiency in medical material increases and can be rapidly scaled up during prolonged disruptions, and that the self-sufficiency rate for critical goods be raised.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that Sweden's self-sufficiency in medical material increases and can be rapidly scaled up during prolonged disruptions, and that the self-sufficiency rate for critical goods be raised. Care shall be provided according to need and have good accessibility throughout the country. The counter-proposal's demands for a strategy for drug supply and faster access to specialized medications lie within these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att Sveriges självförsörjning av medicinskt material ökar och snabbt kan skalas upp vid långvariga störningar, och att självförsörjningsgraden av kritiska varor höjs. Vården ska ges efter behov och ha god tillgänglighet i hela landet. Motförslagets krav på en strategi för läkemedelstillgång och snabbare tillgång till särläkemedel ligger inom dessa åtaganden.
- self-sufficiency in medical materialdecisive»Sveriges självförsörjning av energi, livsmedel och medicinskt material behöver öka och snabbt kunna skalas upp vid långvariga störningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's self-sufficiency in energy, food, and medical material needs to increase and be able to be rapidly scaled up during prolonged disruptions.”
- raised self-sufficiency»Öka den svenska självförsörjningsgraden av kritiska produkter och varor« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase Sweden's self-sufficiency rate for critical products and goods”
- care according to need»efter behov och ha god tillgänglighet« (party programme ↗)“according to need and have good accessibility”
- accessible care»Avskaffa vårdköerna och införa en riktig vårdgaranti« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Abolish care queues and introduce a real care guarantee”
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:SoU12)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1035 — Tillgänglig och jämlik tandvård av Anna Wallentheim (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1062 — Nationell samordning av precisionsmedicin för en jämlik vård av Aylin Nouri (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1079 — En jämlik tandvård av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1124 — Melatonin som kosttillskott av Helena Storckenfeldt och Lars Püss (båda M)
- Motion 2023/24:1163 — Folktandvårdsklinikers redovisning av kostnader för papperslösas och asylsökandes tandvård av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1173 — Ett utvecklat folkhälsoarbete av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1228 — Fler beredningsformer för cytostatika av Martina Johansson (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1302 — Jämlik tandvård av Hanna Westerén (S)
- Motion 2023/24:133 — En ersättningsmodell som stimulerar privattandläkare att etablera sig där behoven är som störst av Eric Palmqvist (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1353 — Tandvård för alla av Niklas Karlsson (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1358 — En kommunpolitik för hela landet av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1361 — Likvärdiga förutsättningar för folktandvården och privata vårdgivare av Peter Hedberg och Anna-Belle Strömberg (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1417 — Minskat slöseri med medicin av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1558 — Appläkartjänster, apotek och vårdcentraler av Johan Löfstrand m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1638 — Receptfria och mer tillgängliga naloxonläkemedel av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1713 — Tandvård som ett led i sjukvårdsbehandling för personer med epilepsi av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1855 — Tandvård som en del av övrig sjukvård av Olle Thorell m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1907 — Kostnadsfria mensskydd för flickor och kvinnor av Linnéa Wickman m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1922 — Kostnadsfria mensskydd i Sverige av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1948 — Goda och lika möjligheter till tekniska hjälpmedel vid diabetesvård av Magnus Manhammar (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament