The healthcare system in Norway

Norway has a public healthcare system that provides medical and care services to people who have the right to healthcare in Norway.

The healthcare system is divided into primary healthcare and specialist healthcare.

Primary healthcare is usually your first point of contact. It includes general practitioners (fastlege), municipal health services, emergency out-of-hours services (legevakt), physiotherapists and other municipal services.

Your fastlege is normally the first doctor you should contact when you have a health problem that is not an emergency. The GP can examine you, diagnose and treat common health problems, prescribe medicines and refer you to a specialist or hospital when necessary.

Specialist healthcare includes hospitals and other specialist services. In most non-emergency situations, you normally need a referral from a GP or another healthcare professional before receiving specialist treatment.

If you need immediate medical assistance but the situation is not life-threatening, you can contact the out-of-hours medical service (legevakt) by calling 116 117.

In a life-threatening emergency, call 113.

Many healthcare services require an adult patient to pay a user fee (egenandel). The amount depends on the service. Some services, including hospital admission, may be free of charge.

If you pay enough approved user fees during a calendar year, you may be entitled to an exemption card (frikort). Once you have an exemption card, you normally do not have to pay further approved user fees for the rest of that calendar year.

Children have special rights in the Norwegian healthcare system. For example, children under the age of 16 normally do not pay user fees for public healthcare services.

Healthcare rights depend on your situation, including your residence status, membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme and whether you are visiting Norway.

If you are unsure about your rights, check the information on Helsenorge or ask your healthcare provider.

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