Healthcare in Oslo

The health care system in Norway has both public and private medical services and facilities. Folketrydgen is the public health service financed by the Norwegian government and administered by each county (kommune). Every citizen and resident of Norway is entitled to health care. The quality of public health care in Norway is high. Most communities have a public medical clinic (helsesenter) where residents of the area can make an appointment to see a doctor.

Process

Once you are in the Norwegian social system, you can choose a doctor within the public system (this can be done online) and change that doctor up to two times in one year. Once you have a doctor, just call to make an appointment. Most doctors’ offices are open from 8 – 15.

Once at the office just sit and wait to be called. You often don’t need to see the receptionist first to fill out paperwork. Payment is taken care of once the examination is concluded. This can be done by credit card, or you can be billed at home, though this sometimes costs more.

You have to visit your general practitioner in order to get a reference to a specialist. You may have to wait for a couple of weeks to see a doctor unless you have an emergency, and up to several months to see a specialist.

Payment

Medical services are not entirely free, but highly subsidized by the government. You will be expected to pay a fee after any visit, but once you reach a specific limit (around 1,840 NOK in 2010 – changes annually), you are entitled to a “free card” (frikort) and you will not have to pay any more within that calendar year. You just have to show your “free card” when you visit any medical facility. If you choose to go to a private practice, fees are higher and you will not be able to use a “free card”. Some people prefer to go private in order to avoid waits or to see specific specialists.

Health Concerns

Living in Oslo poses no real health risks. Norway is almost clinically clean and hasn’t suffered from any epidemics in the past century. The tap water is safe to drink and doesn’t taste of chemicals or metals as in many other cities and countries. Even swimming in lakes, rivers and the fjord is safe. In 2009 there was a brief scare when tests showed traces of a certain chemical in the water system. All households were immediately told to avoid using tap water for some days, just to be extra safe.

Private Health Care

Private health care is available in Oslo. Many Norwegian doctors have their own private practices, or work in private clinics and hospitals. They are listed in the Gule Sider (Yellow Pages) under Leger – Almenn praksis. You can call any of these and make an appointment. These private doctors are not covered under the state-run health system and are therefore more expensive. The wait is shorter and some are better, but quality is not guaranteed.

The private medical clinics in Oslo are growing. Emergency walk-in services are available as well as scheduled appointments for general practitioners and specialists. Several of these clinics have specialized departments.

Below are a few:

• Red Cross Klinikk - Fredrik Stangsgt. 11/13, 0264 Oslo, tel: 22 54 11 11
• Oslo Akutten - Nedre Vollgt. 8, 0158 Oslo, tel: 22 41 24 40
• Volvat Medisinske Senter - Borgenvn. 2A, 0303 Oslo, tel: 22 95 75 00
• Klinikk 8 - Hjalmar Brantingsvei 8, 0581 Oslo, tel: 22 65 06 10