Norway: health system summary 2022
Health System Summary
Overview
Health coverage among Norwegian residents is universal, covering the whole population, and the benefit basket includes a broad range of services. With Norway’s per capita GDP being one of the highest in the world, the country’s per capita health expenditure is also much higher than in most countries – over US$7 217 PPP in 2019. Public sources account for 85.5% of current health expenditure, which is the highest share in Europe. Most private health financing comes from households’ out-of-pocket payments, of which most is spent on pharmaceuticals, dental care and long-term care. There are annual cost-sharing ceilings to protect the population from excessive health care spending.
Norwegians live longer and healthier lives than most other Europeans, with the gains over recent decades partly attributable to effective and high-quality prevention measures and treatment. Norway also has a well-developed system of long-term care, with long-term care receiving close to a third of the total public spending on health. There are efforts to make the health system more age-friendly and address mental health problems. Norway is also working on further strengthening primary and community care by reforming primary and hospital care, improving coordination between various types of care, and adapting medical education to future health needs.