Public vs private
Public healthcare in Norway is known for its high standards and quality and has been ranked amongst the top countries globally. Both native citizens and expats have access to public healthcare, making Norway an attractive destination for many.
However, as an expat it is important to check whether the public healthcare covers everything you require. For example, the following are not included in the basic healthcare that is offered:
- Dental care & optical care
- Choice between physicians & facilities
- Physiotherapy
- Medical repatriation
Many expats choose to supplement their healthcare in Norway with private insurance to include a wider range of services. Insurance plans such as those offered by AXA – Global Healthcare can cover each of the above and more. With them, you could have shorter waiting periods for appointments and surgeries as well as access to an international health plan, so you're covered wherever you travel in the world.
How bad are public waiting times?
Hospitals in Norway struggle to keep up with the sheer volume of patients that come in each day. Thus, the average waiting time for a specialist consultation is more than 4 weeks.
The waiting time for emergency care is also problematic in the public system, mainly because of a lack of nurses and medical professionals. In extreme cases, you could be waiting for over 4 hours to be seen in one of Norway's hospitals. Usually though, you can expect waiting times to be at least an hour.
More information
If you would like more tips about healthcare in Norway, check out our Norway Health Guide. Here you will find lots more information about how the public system works including what to do in an emergency, pharmacies and doctors in this Scandinavian country.
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Sources:
https://www.who.int/healthinfo/paper30.pdf
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/countries/norway
https://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/49105858.pdf
https://norwaytoday.info/everyday/the-waiting-time-is-increasing-for-norwegian-patients/