Several of the country’s regions are about to raise the emergency fee, according to a survey conducted by TV4 Nyheterna. The idea is that it will help the regions’ difficult financial situation and reduce unnecessary emergency visits.
But critics believe that this will neither help financially nor direct patients to primary care.
The tough economic times are affecting Sweden’s regions. In Västra Götaland, they want to counteract the difficult situation by raising patient fees, including the fee for emergency visits from SEK 300 to SEK 400.
– It is a tough decision to make to raise patient fees. But we have a decision that we need to increase income by 100 million. We will still not be very high compared to other regions, says Janette Olsson (S), healthcare affairs spokesperson for the Västra Götaland Region.
Price difference between the regions
The fees at the hospital’s emergency department vary between regions of the country. The most expensive is in Västernorrland, where a visit costs SEK 550, while in the cheapest regions it only costs SEK 200.
But these figures may change, because Västra Götaland is not the only region considering raising the emergency fee.
A survey from Nyheterna to the country’s regions shows that the Västmanland region has already decided to raise the emergency fee in 2024, and among the other 20 regions, eight have proposed to do so. Decisions are expected in several of them at the end of the year.
In addition to raising incomes, the Västra Götaland region also hopes that increased fees will reduce the number of unnecessary visits to the emergency room.
– We know that approximately one third could receive care at primary care instead of the emergency room. We need to use emergency room resources for those who really need it, says Janette Olsson.
The criticism: “Will not help”
But not everyone thinks this is the right way to go. Anders Åkesson is chairman of the National Heart and Lung Association, a patient organization for those with heart, vascular or lung disease.
– This will not help the regions in that way financially. It is possible that people in Västra Götaland have the ambition to try to direct care over to primary care. But then you have to ensure that there is an opportunity to come to primary care instead of applying to emergency care, says Anders Åkesson.