Health care and social welfare are seen as public sector responsibilities, and are supported by a national social insurance system. Health care, both inpatient and outpatient, is run by 20 county councils, two health-care regions and one large municipality. Responsibility for social welfare services rests primarily with the municipalities.
All residents in Sweden are covered by the national health insurance. If a person is ill, or must stay home to care for sick children, he/she receives a taxable daily allowance, 80% of lost income. The patient is charged a fee for medical consultations and any drugs prescribed. There is a ceiling of SEK 900 per year for medical treatment and SEK 1,300 for medical drugs, after which further treatment/drugs are free of charge. The county councils together with the health insurance system then pay most hospitalization costs and laboratory fees. The financial responsibility for prescribed drugs rests with the county councils. A large proportion of private doctors’ fees in outpatient care are also covered by the national health insurance.