Several actors collaborate on medicine recommendations in Sweden

Published 2026-10-30

Medicine recommendations in Sweden are not produced by a single organisation. The Swedish system is built on several actors who have different, but complementary, tasks. These include authorities, regions and other organisations that work together so that healthcare professionals receive clear information about which medicines are best to use.

Authorities play a central role in the system. The Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket) is responsible, among other things, for reviewing medicines and checking their safety and effectiveness. The Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) decides which medicines should be covered by the high-cost protection, meaning which medicines the patient can obtain at a lower price. The regions are responsible for healthcare in their area and use these assessments when deciding which medicines should be used in healthcare. Many regions therefore have their own medicines committees (läkemedelskommittéer) that work on advice and guidelines for doctors and other professional groups.

Cooperation between the various actors is important so that the recommendations become consistent and easy to follow. Because the roles are complementary, each actor can focus on its own area, for example safety, costs or practical use in healthcare. This means the information can be used at several levels of health and medical care, from individual clinics to national decisions.

For patients in Sweden, this means that the medicines recommended have been reviewed by several bodies. The system is thus designed to combine knowledge from different sources. Anyone who wants to know more about a particular recommendation can contact their health centre or the authority responsible for that specific area.

Sources: Läkartidningen

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