2025-02-192024/25:SoU14 · p.8SoUHealth & social services
Review of the Pharmacy Market
Review of how the pharmacy market functions and its accessibility
What's at stake: If the pharmacy network shrinks in parts of the country, it becomes harder for residents there to collect their medicines, particularly in sparsely populated areas. How the market is regulated and financed therefore affects the practical availability of medicines for people outside the big cities.
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 launch a broad, comprehensive review of the entire deregulated pharmacy market, or whether the work already under way - including an announced inquiry into pharmacies' trade margin and monitoring of the rural subsidy - is enough to safeguard access to medicines across the country.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions. It points to the fact that TLV already monitors developments in the pharmacy market and the rural subsidy through recurring reports, that TLV has assessed that a government assignment is needed to review the regulatory framework for the long term, and that the government announced, in the 2025 budget bill, an inquiry that will among other things review pharmacies' trade margin. The committee also points to ongoing assignments concerning pharmacists' role and the medicine supply, and considers overall that the work already under way should not be pre-empted.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 15 (S, V, MP)
The reservation (S, V, MP) argues that deregulation of the pharmacy market has led to inadequate accessibility in parts of the country and that opaque ownership structures raise concerns about the mixing of different actors' interests. It also points out that the market's financing model has been questioned, since falling sales or external factors such as high inflation force pharmacy operators to review their store networks, which threatens accessibility, and therefore considers it time for a thorough review of the Swedish pharmacy market.
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 15 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: high | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/90/0/16 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/12/0/6 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | Yes | Yes 21/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | Yes | Yes 12/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 57/0/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:1520 by Malin Larsson and Anna-Belle Strömberg (both S), 2024/25:1683 by Johanna Haraldsson et al. (S) request 4, 2024/25:2296 by Joakim Sandell et al. (S), and 2024/25:3022 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli et al. (S) request 71.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:1520 av Malin Larsson och Anna-Belle Strömberg (båda S), 2024/25:1683 av Johanna Haraldsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 4, 2024/25:2296 av Joakim Sandell m.fl. (S) och 2024/25:3022 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S) yrkande 71.
Riksdag decision: Parliament rejected approximately 90 proposals concerning pharmaceuticals and dental care. The proposals were submitted during the general parliamentary session 2024 and concern, among other things, the prescription of pharmaceuticals, review of the pharmacy market, and the cost ceiling for dental care. Parliament refers primarily to the fact that work is already ongoing in the areas covered by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to review doctors' prescription rights to prevent doctors from prescribing medications to themselves or close relatives. (S, V, MP) — Reservation 15
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's core commitment is that the state should own pharmacies, and the election manifesto explicitly points out that privatisation has moved pharmacies from rural areas to cities and from poor to rich areas.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's core commitment is that the state should own pharmacies, and the election manifesto explicitly points out that privatisation has moved pharmacies from rural areas to cities and from poor to rich areas. A comprehensive review of the pharmacy market based on poor accessibility and unclear ownership structures goes in the same direction as the plan's criticism. The plan also requires that medicine costs are affordable for everyone.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att staten ska äga apoteken, och valplattformen pekar uttryckligen ut att privatiseringen flyttat apoteken från landsbygd till städer och från fattiga till rika områden. En genomgripande översyn av apoteksmarknaden med utgångspunkt i bristande tillgänglighet och otydliga ägarstrukturer går i samma riktning som planens kritik. Planen kräver också att läkemedelskostnaderna är överkomliga för alla.
- state-owned pharmaciesdecisive»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”
- criticism of pharmacy deregulation»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”
- access to medicines throughout the country»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 get hold of medicine, yet in the richer areas of major cities there are several different pharmacies on every corner.”
- affordable medicine costs»Kostnaderna för vård och läkemedel ska vara överkomliga för« (party programme ↗)“The costs of care and medicine should be affordable for”
The plan's core commitment is that market experiments in welfare have gone too far and that democratic control should be taken back, while everyone throughout the country should have equitable access to care.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's core commitment is that market experiments in welfare have gone too far and that democratic control should be taken back, while everyone throughout the country should have equitable access to care. A thorough review of the deregulated pharmacy market, its ownership structures and accessibility in rural areas aligns with this. Pharmacies are not explicitly mentioned, so the support is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att marknadsexperimenten i välfärden gått för långt och att den demokratiska kontrollen ska tas tillbaka, samtidigt som alla i hela landet ska ha likvärdig tillgång till vård. En genomgripande översyn av den avreglerade apoteksmarknaden, dess ägarstrukturer och tillgänglighet i glesbygd ligger i linje med det. Apoteken nämns inte uttryckligen, så stödet är härlett.
- take back democratic controldecisive»Det är dags att ta tillbaka den demokratiska kontrollen över välfärden och att stoppa sönderprivatiseringen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is time to take back democratic control over welfare and stop the fragmentation through privatization.”
- criticism of deregulation»Men nu har marknadsexperimenten gått för långt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“But now market experiments have gone too far.”
- equitable access throughout the country»Alla invånare i hela landet ska ha likvärdig tillgång till skola, vård och omsorg.« (party programme ↗)“All residents throughout the country should have equitable access to school, healthcare and care.”
- healthcare distributes life chances»Skola, vård och omsorg har en central roll för fördelningen av möjligheter i livet.« (party programme ↗)“School, healthcare and care have a central role in the distribution of life opportunities.”
The plan argues that commercialization of welfare counteracts the diversity that was the reforms' purpose and wants to remove commercially oriented actors, while public services must be available throughout the country and access to care must not be unevenly distributed.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan argues that commercialization of welfare counteracts the diversity that was the reforms' purpose and wants to remove commercially oriented actors, while public services must be available throughout the country and access to care must not be unevenly distributed. The counter-proposal's criticism of deregulation's consequences for accessibility and of unclear ownership structures aligns with this. A comprehensive review of the pharmaceutical market thus follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen menar att kommersialiseringen av välfärden motverkar den mångfald som var reformernas syfte och vill få bort de kommersiellt inriktade aktörerna, samtidigt som samhällsservice ska finnas tillgänglig i hela landet och tillgången till vård inte får vara ojämnt fördelad. Motförslagets kritik av avregleringens konsekvenser för tillgängligheten och av otydliga ägarstrukturer ligger i linje med detta. En genomgripande översyn av apoteksmarknaden följer därför av planen.
- commercialization damages welfaredecisive»kommersialiseringen av välfärden motverkar den mångfald« (party programme ↗)“commercialization of welfare counteracts diversity”
- away with profit-driven actors»få bort de kommersiellt inriktade aktörerna« (party programme ↗)“remove commercially oriented actors”
- public services throughout the country»Samhällsfunktioner som polis, arbetsförmedling och« (party programme ↗)“Public services such as police, employment services and”
- equitable access to care»I dag är tillgången till vård ojämnt fördelad.« (party programme ↗)“Today access to care is unevenly distributed.”
The plan defends freedom of choice and wants more actors to contribute to innovation and quality in commonly financed welfare, and the party programme rejects planned economy instructions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan defends freedom of choice and wants more actors to contribute to innovation and quality in commonly financed welfare, and the party programme rejects planned economy instructions. A comprehensive review that starts from the view that the deregulation of the pharmacy market is the problem pulls in the opposite direction. The plan's care for service throughout the country gives some support for the requirement, but the decisive commitment speaks against it.
Original (Swedish)
Planen försvarar valfriheten och vill att fler aktörer bidrar till innovation och kvalitet i en gemensamt finansierad välfärd, och partiprogrammet avvisar planekonomiska pekpinnar. En genomgripande översyn som utgår från att avregleringen av apoteksmarknaden är problemet drar i motsatt riktning. Planens omsorg om service i hela landet ger visst stöd för kravet, men det avgörande åtagandet talar emot.
- defend freedom of choicedecisive»Vi vill försvara valfriheten inom vård och omsorg och bedriva verksamheten nära vårdtagarna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to defend freedom of choice within healthcare and conduct activities close to patients.”
- more actors in welfare»Centerpartiet vill se en välfärd som är gemensamt finansierad men som ger valfrihet och där fler aktörer bidrar till ökad innovation, effektivitet och kvalitet.« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party wants to see welfare that is commonly financed but that provides choice and where more actors contribute to increased innovation, efficiency and quality.”
- service throughout the country»Offentlig service ska vara nära och pålitlig i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Public service shall be close and reliable throughout the country.”
flags: citat_blockerat
The plan's guiding commitment is that choice of provider and freedom of establishment shall apply throughout the country for those who meet quality requirements and that profit-driven companies shall be able to operate in the welfare sector on equal terms with public providers.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's guiding commitment is that choice of provider and freedom of establishment shall apply throughout the country for those who meet quality requirements and that profit-driven companies shall be able to operate in the welfare sector on equal terms with public providers. The counter-proposal instead builds on the deregulation of the pharmacy market being the problem and wishes a comprehensive review of the market and its ownership structures. That starting point goes against the plan's line, which instead wishes to protect diversity of providers and limit public activities that crowd out private alternatives.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att vårdval och etableringsfrihet ska råda i hela landet för den som klarar kvalitetskraven och att vinstdrivande företag ska kunna verka i välfärdssektorn på lika villkor som offentliga utförare. Motförslaget bygger tvärtom på att avregleringen av apoteksmarknaden är problemet och vill ha en genomgripande översyn av marknaden och dess ägarstrukturer. Den utgångspunkten går emot planens linje, som i stället vill värna mångfald av utförare och begränsa offentlig verksamhet som tränger ut privata alternativ.
- freedom of establishment throughout the countrydecisive»Vårdval och etableringsfrihet ska råda i hela landet för den som lever upp till kvalitetskraven.« (party programme ↗)“Choice of provider and freedom of establishment shall apply throughout the country for those who meet quality requirements.”
- profit-driven actors allowed»Vinstdrivande företag ska kunna verka i välfärdssektorn så länge kvalitetskraven uppfylls och« (party programme ↗)“Profit-driven companies shall be able to operate in the welfare sector as long as quality requirements are met and”
- equal terms for providers»Privata och offentliga utförare ska verka på lika villkor« (party programme ↗)“Private and public providers shall operate on equal terms”
- limited state operational responsibility»offentliga ska inte driva verksamheter som tränger ut fungerande privata alternativ eller försvårar« (party programme ↗)“state shall not conduct activities that crowd out functioning private alternatives or make difficult”
The party programme wants welfare services to be characterised by quality, diversity and choice, that operational forms as far as possible be based on absence of monopoly and that citizens themselves choose providers.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants welfare services to be characterised by quality, diversity and choice, that operational forms as far as possible be based on absence of monopoly and that citizens themselves choose providers. A comprehensive review based on criticism of deregulation pulls in the opposite direction. The plan's own answer to weak accessibility in sparsely populated areas is targeted operational support and local services, not reconsideration of the market model.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill att välfärdstjänster kännetecknas av kvalitet, mångfald och valfrihet, att verksamhetsformer så långt möjligt bygger på frånvaro av monopol och att medborgarna själva väljer utförare. En genomgripande översyn som grundas på kritik av avregleringen drar i motsatt riktning. Planens eget svar på svag tillgänglighet i glesbygd är riktat driftstöd och lokal service, inte omprövning av marknadsmodellen.
- absence of monopolydecisive»ska så långt möjligt bygga på frånvaro av monopol« (party programme ↗)“shall as far as possible be based on absence of monopoly”
- diversity and choice in care»av kvalitet, mångfald och valfrihet.« (party programme ↗)“of quality, diversity and choice.”
- targeted support for remote services»Rädda lanthandeln genom att bredda driftstödet till dagligvarubutiker.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Save the small store through broadening operational support to everyday goods shops.”
- free choice of provider»Medborgarna ska ges frihet att själva välja vårdgivare.« (party programme ↗)“Citizens shall be given freedom to choose their own care provider.”
The counter-proposal's starting point is that deregulation of the pharmacy market has failed and that the market's ownership and financing model should be fundamentally overhauled.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal's starting point is that deregulation of the pharmacy market has failed and that the market's ownership and financing model should be fundamentally overhauled. The plan's line is the opposite: freedom of choice and a diversity of actors are prerequisites for renewal in welfare, and business conditions should be improved rather than tightened. The plan therefore does not support a comprehensive review of the pharmacy market.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslagets utgångspunkt är att avregleringen av apoteksmarknaden misslyckats och att marknadens ägar- och finansieringsmodell bör göras om i grunden. Planens linje är den motsatta: valfrihet och en mångfald av aktörer är förutsättningar för förnyelse i välfärden, och näringslivets villkor ska förbättras snarare än stramas åt. Planen ger därför inte stöd för en genomgripande omprövning av apoteksmarknaden.
- diversity of actorsdecisive»En mångfald av aktörer är också en förutsättning för förnyelse och innovation« (party programme ↗)“A diversity of actors is also a prerequisite for renewal and innovation”
- more choice in welfare»mer valfrihet, mångfald och innovationsförmåga« (party programme ↗)“more choice, diversity and innovation capacity”
- dynamic business sector»Sveriges välstånd bygger på ett dynamiskt och livskraftigt näringsliv.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's prosperity rests on a dynamic and vibrant business sector.”
- reduced regulatory red tape»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove one-third of companies' administrative costs and one-third of regulatory red tape”
The plan's central requirement is that citizens have the right to good and accessible care even outside the major cities, and it criticizes that public services have been dismantled in the countryside.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's central requirement is that citizens have the right to good and accessible care even outside the major cities, and it criticizes that public services have been dismantled in the countryside. It also wants to review the organization of healthcare. That speaks for the counter-proposal's comprehensive review of the pharmacy market, even though the plan at the same time defends freedom of choice and private actors, which makes the conclusion uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande krav är att medborgare har rätt till god och tillgänglig vård även utanför storstäderna, och den kritiserar att offentlig service monterats ned på landsbygden. Den vill också se över vårdens organisation. Det talar för motförslagets genomgripande översyn av apoteksmarknaden, även om planen samtidigt försvarar valfrihet och privata aktörer, vilket gör slutsatsen osäker.
- accessible care throughout the countrydecisive»Sverigedemokraterna anser att medborgare i ett högskatteland har rätt att förvänta sig en god och tillgänglig sjukvård, även utanför storstäderna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats believe that citizens in a high-tax country have the right to expect good and accessible healthcare, even outside the major cities.”
- public service in the countryside»Skolresultaten har sjunkit, köerna till sjukvården har vuxit, polisen kommer allt mer sällan till den som utsatts för vardagsbrott och offentlig service har monterats ned på landsbygd och i stora delar av landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“School results have fallen, queues for healthcare have grown, the police come less and less often to those subjected to everyday crime and public services have been dismantled in the countryside and in large parts of the country.”
- review of healthcare organization»Se över sjukvårdens organisation« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Review the organization of healthcare”
- freedom of choice but broader benefit»Sverigedemokraterna ser att marknadsekonomi, valfrihet inom välfärden och internationell handel gynnar samhället och är viktigt att försvara, men kan samtidigt se att stora välstånd som skapas måste komma fler till del.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats see that market economy, freedom of choice within welfare and international trade benefit society and are important to defend, but can at the same time see that the great wealth that is created must be shared by more people.”
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