HEALTH-CARE TECHNOLOGY IN SWEDEN

Health care in Sweden is a public sector responsibility and equity in access to care is quite important. The Swedish system is organized int o several levels, with the Federation of County Councils at the top, a nd with regional, county, and local levels. In theory, the four hospit al tiers developed by these different levels provide a clear hierarchy for acquisition of sophisticated new technologies. In practice, certa in problems have emerged, especially rigidity of the system. Reforms a re underway. Sweden was one of the first countries to become involved in the assessment of health care technology. From the beginning, techn ologies were assessed to determine if they were 'consistent with prove n scientific knowledge and good experience'. Sweden has a national pro gram in health care technology assessment (TA), and TA is increasingly visible to policy makers and physicians. Health care TA has been effe ctively institutionalized in Sweden and has a bright future. The great est problem in the Swedish context is the large number of unassessed t echnologies. Because of this, international cooperation is essential.