The 2015 hospital treatment choice reform in Norway: Continuity or change?

Ånen Ringard, Ingrid Sperre Saunes and Anna Sagan

Health Policy, 2016, vol. 120, issue 4, 350-355

Abstract: In several European countries, including Norway, polices to increase patient choice of hospital provider have remained high on the political agenda. The main reason behind the interest in hospital choice reforms in Norway has been the belief that increasing choice can remedy the persistent problem of long waiting times for elective hospital care. Prior to the 2013 General Election, the Conservative Party campaigned in favour of a new choice reform: “the treatment choice reform”. This article describes the background and process leading up to introduction of the reform in the autumn of 2015. It also provides a description of the content and discusses possible implications of the reform for patients, providers and government bodies. In sum, the reform contains elements of both continuity and change. The main novelty of the reform lies in the increased role of private for-profit healthcare providers.

Keywords: Patient choice; Reform; Hospital; Private providers; Norway (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:120:y:2016:i:4:p:350-355

DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.02.013

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