The week kicked off with lectures covering the establishment of the Swedish healthcare system in a historical context and current perspectives on governance and financing. During several study visits, students could see first-hand the range of available healthcare services and learn from those involved in care provision. Tour sites included a primary healthcare center in Stockholm, the Karolinska Hospital—an academic hospital providing the country’s most highly specialized care, and a long-term care facility for the elderly.
At Stockholm Regional office, the group learned about the provision and funding of health services at the regional and national level and had a question and answer session with a policy advisor. Observations and lessons from the week were contextualized in a lecture covering healthcare system performance: comparing the Swedish system to the rest of Europe and highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the Swedish model.