Sweden’s Healthcare Crisis: When It Hits Home, and the Burden of Self-Blame
Author: William Moulod
For most of my life, I believed in Sweden’s universal healthcare system. It was supposed to be a safety net—a promise that no matter what, you’d be taken care of. But when my mother got sick, that belief shattered. What I thought would be a system of support became a maze of inefficiencies, delays, and miscommunication. Watching her decline while navigating this broken system wasn’t just heartbreaking—it left me with a guilt I’ll carry forever.
I blamed myself for her death. Could I have pushed harder for answers? Fought for better care? Found a way to bypass the endless queues? These questions haunt me, and while I’ve learned to accept that I did my best with the tools I had, I never want anyone else to feel the same crushing weight of self-blame that I did. This is why I believe Sweden’s healthcare system must change.
The Personal Wake-Up Call
When my mother fell ill, I discovered firsthand the cracks in the system:
It Took Too Long: Despite her rapidly declining health, it took weeks to get her an appointment. Time she didn’t have.
No Communication: Departments within the same hospital didn’t share notes. We spent valuable time repeating her medical history, over and over.
Staff Shortages: Overwhelmed and understaffed, her doctors were doing their best—but the system made it impossible for them to give her the attention she needed.
Wrong Diagnosis: It took an insufferable amount of pressure to get the correct diagnosis for my mother, sadly a very rare and deadly one.
As I watched her struggle, I struggled too—not just with fear and grief, but with anger. Why wasn’t the system working? Why were we made to feel like just another case in a long line of cases, instead of a family desperately fighting for someone they love?
A “Die Slow in Queue” System
Thomas Sowell once described systems like Sweden’s as “die slow in queue.” At the time, it felt harsh. Now, I understand the bitter truth behind his words. Sweden’s healthcare system, while “free” at the point of use, is bogged down by inefficiency:
Long Waits: The promise of universal care is undermined by wait times that leave patients suffering—or dying—before they receive treatment.
Overburdened Staff: Chronic understaffing means doctors and nurses are stretched to their limits, often unable to provide the care they want to give.
Lack of Communication: Critical details get lost because departments don’t coordinate or share information effectively.
Unlike the U.S., where access often depends on the size of your wallet, Sweden’s issue is systemic inertia. You’re not fighting to pay; you’re fighting to be seen at all. For my mother, that wait was fatal.
Denmark’s Model: A Path Forward
When comparing healthcare systems in Europe, Denmark consistently outperforms Sweden. According to the Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI), Denmark ranks among the top in Europe, while Sweden lags behind. In 2023:
Denmark: Ranked 8th, Denmark’s healthcare system excels in short wait times, patient satisfaction, and its integration of public and private providers.
Sweden: Ranked 23rd, Sweden’s system struggles with wait times, regional disparities, and overburdened staff.
Denmark’s success stems from its public-private hybrid model, which blends universal coverage with market-driven efficiencies. Key benefits include:
Shorter Queues: Patients can seek private care when public queues are too long, relieving pressure on both systems.
Higher Standards Through Competition: The presence of private providers incentivizes public clinics to maintain high-quality care.
Freedom of Choice: Citizens can decide where and how they want to be treated, empowering them during difficult times.
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been instrumental in Denmark’s success, streamlining hospital construction, technology adoption, and patient care. Sweden could follow this example to revitalize its crumbling system, ensuring that no one has to wait for care while their health deteriorates.
Nordic Executive Medicine: A Vision for Prevention
While systemic change will take time, Nordic Executive Medicine (NEM) is offering a glimpse into what’s possible. By focusing on predictive healthcare, NEM prioritizes prevention—fixing health problems before they become emergencies.
NEM’s Approach:
Advanced Diagnostics: Comprehensive testing to detect potential risks early.
Personalized Prevention: Tailored health plans to address individual needs.
Technology Integration: Real-time monitoring with AI and wearables.
Empowering Patients: Educating individuals to take proactive control of their health.
NEM doesn’t replace emergency care, but it complements the system by reducing the burden of chronic diseases. If my mother had access to predictive healthcare, her condition might have been caught sooner, and our story might have ended differently.
A Call for Change
Sweden’s healthcare system is at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of complacency, where families like mine are left to navigate a system that’s supposed to help but instead feels like a maze of delays and inefficiencies. Or we can demand change—adopting a model like Denmark’s, fostering public-private collaboration, and embracing innovations like predictive healthcare.
I blame myself for what happened to my mother, but I shouldn’t have had to. No one should. A functioning healthcare system should take that burden off families and give every patient a fighting chance. Sweden has the obligation to build a healthcare system where no one has to wait too long, fall through the cracks, or carry the guilt of a loved one’s suffering. Because I know first-hand that in healthcare, as in life, every second matters.
