Health Care

In addition to the public clinics, which are run by the government, there are many different private clinics, which offer emergency walk-in care as well as appointments.

Any resident of Norway is eligible to receive aid in times of illness or old age. Health care in Norway is administered by each county. Though the insurance is governed on a national level, it is at the local level that insurance is organized and hospitals are located. Each county has a clinic with general practitioners, who are the first point of contact for almost all type of care except emergency and dental care. If further care is needed they will refer the patient to a specialist.

Norway also has several other types of clinics. One is a dental clinic. Patients do not need referrals to visit these clinics; they can go at any time. There are also emergency clinics located in many areas that deal specifically with emergency and outpatient care. There is a series of children’s clinics that deal with annual check-ups for young children. They are in charge of weighing and measuring the growth of the children as well as vaccinating them throughout the first years of their lives. In addition to the public clinics, which are run by the government, there are many different private clinics. These clinics offer emergency walk-in care as well as appointments.

The Ministry of Health oversees funding and operations of the national health care system. While each county is responsible for the funding and decisions made at the local level, the Ministry of Health passes guidelines that control the country as a whole.