Despite increased availability of doctors, midwives and nurses, the healthcare demand for personnel is even greater. In particular, nurses and specialist doctors need to be recruited, according to a new report from the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The National Board of Health and Welfare has reviewed the demand and supply of health professionals in Sweden. In comparison with other countries in the EU/EEA area, Sweden is in a good position. Medical density is the fourth-highest, and for nurses, Sweden is in fifth place. Between 2007 and 2012, the availability of doctors increased by ten percent relative to the population. During the same period, the number of midwives and nurses increased by four percent, although the availability of specialist nurses decreased by six percent. “The increase is partly explained by the fact that more people are educated. At this point just over 1,100 doctors and about 5,000 nurses graduate every year in Sweden. More and more Swedes are also trained in medical and dental professions abroad”, analyst Magnus Göransson says.
Inflow of health professionals
Another reason for the increase is the inflow of health workers to Sweden. Since 2003, more Swedish medical licenses based on foreign medical school have been awarded than licenses based on an education from Swedish medical schools. 24 percent of the doctors currently employed in the Swedish healthcare services are trained abroad. However, despite the increased availability of staff, the National Board of Health and Welfare assesses that the demand for midwives, doctors and nurses will be even greater. The following profession groups will mainly be in demand by counties and regions:
- Experienced doctors and specialist physicians, particularly specialists in general medicine and psychiatry.
- Basic trained nurses, as well as specialized nurses, will be in increasing demand, especially in psychiatric care, anesthesia and intensive care, surgical care and geriatric care.
- Midwives, although the demand varies between regions.
However, the National Board of Health and Welfare estimates that there is balance in the labor market for dentists and dental hygienists.
Measures to cover staffing needs
According to the National Board’s survey of counties and regions, the lack of staff has been handled in different ways. Examples include increased contact with students, recruitment of doctors and nurses in other countries, higher nursing salaries, changed working hours, schedules and procedures and the establishment of professional services for non-medical tasks in order to provide more time for the healthcare staff.
Link to the report, Nationella planeringsstödet 2015 (available in Swedish only): http://stats.theletter.se/?q=60726197602763460020