Latest news with #Vestre
Local Norway
17-03-2025
- Health
- Local Norway
EXPLAINED: How Norway plans to modernise its GP system
The government said the changes were being made to make the GP system more flexible and accessible for patients. Among the measures, Norway's government said that it would ensure that all GP practices offer patients video appointments . 'There are far more citizens who want video consultations than those who receive that offer today,' it added. In addition to the video consultations, general practitioners would also be available via telephone or text when suitable. A new pilot scheme would also be tested, allowing patients to have a digital consultation with another doctor if their current GP was unavailable. 'The GP should still be the residents' first choice, but if the GP is not available or the time is not suitable, you should have the opportunity to choose to have a digital consultation with another doctor with whom the municipality has an agreement, if the inquiry is suitable for that,' Minister of Health and Care Services Jan Christian Vestre said. In recent years, Norway has struggled with a GP crisis, which left up to 181,000 people without a GP last year, making regular appointments with a GP hard to come by for many. Advertisement Vestre told broadcaster TV 2 that he wanted the public health service to compete with popular private providers like Dr Dropin and Volvat. 'We want the public general medical service to be so good that it is the citizens' first choice. Then we must also keep up with the times and offer digital solutions that satisfy the expectations people have in modern Norway,' he said. The government wants to ensure that all GPs allow patients to book appointments online via the Helsenorge digital public health platform. However, the vast majority of clinics already have this option available. The latest measures come after the health minister said last week he wanted to change the regulations to allow GPs to work until they were 80 if they wished. READ ALSO: What foreigners in Norway need to know about healthcare costs
Local Norway
14-03-2025
- Health
- Local Norway
Norway moves to ban energy drink sales to under-16s
The Norwegian government submitted a proposal to regulate the sale of energy drinks for consultation on Friday. 'I share the concern of parents, teachers and coaches that children and young people are consuming too much caffeine through energy drinks. Because it causes negative health consequences such as sleep disturbances, restlessness, headaches and, in the worst case, caffeine poisoning,' Minister of Health and Social Care Jan Christian Vestre said in a government announcement. Norway's parliament already voted in favour of a ban in 2023, so the consultation is to decide how ban will be regulated and enforced. Vestre said the ban was being introduced due to the negative health effects these drinks could have on young people's health. 'Large amounts of caffeine for children under 16 years of age are directly dangerous to health. I believe it is right to protect children and young people from the negative health effects of energy drinks. Therefore, the government proposes to introduce a 16-year age limit for this,' he said. As parliament has already voted on a ban, Vestre hoped that the sale of energy drinks to under-16s being prohibited could come into effect shortly after the consultation ends in June. The health minister said there would be consequences for businesses that don't follow the rules. 'It may not be the punishment we envision, but if you break Norwegian law and sell products to children and young people when it is prohibited, there could be some consequences,' he told broadcaster TV 2.
