Health System
The healthcare system in Norway is one of the best in the world. While health care policy is controlled centrally, responsibility for the provision of health care is decentralised. Local authorities at municipal level organise and finance primary health care services according to local demand. The central Government has overall managerial and financial responsibility for the hospital sector. All public hospitals in Norway are run by four Regional Health Authorities (RHA) overseen by the Ministry of Health and Care Services.
Everyone who is resident in a Norwegian municipality is entitled to be registered as a patient with a primary doctor (GP). This means everyone who is registered in the Population Register as resident in a Norwegian municipality. Labour immigrants who are not registered as residing in a Norwegian municipality are not entitled to a primary doctor. However, anyone in need of emergency health care (when their life or health is in danger) will receive this care irrespective of their residence status.
Norwegian residents pay for healthcare services at the point of service, but fees are subsidised and there is an annual limit on how much any one individual has to pay for healthcare.Public healthcare is only free for people 16 years and younger. It also free for pregnant and/or nursing women, regardless of coverage.
If you have your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and are traveling in Norway temporarily, you will be able to access state healthcare services at a reduced cost or for free. However, your EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. It is still recommended you take out travel insurance.