17-03-2025
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.
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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.
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