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The Newbie Guide to Sweden

The Newbie Guide to Sweden

We explain Sweden

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How to buy prescription medicines

Pharmacies used to be state owned but on July 1st 2009 a re-regulation of the Swedish pharmacy market took place, allowing private pharmacies. Since then the total number of pharmacies in Sweden has increased from approximately 950 to over 1400.

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Pharmacies sell both non-prescription and prescription medicines. In order for you to pick up prescription drugs at a pharmacy or order them online a doctor or other prescriber must write a prescription for you.

Prescriptions are usually sent to the pharmacy electronically, but sometimes they are printed out on paper for you to take to the pharmacy. When you receive a paper prescription, you must bring it to the pharmacy in order to pick up the medicine. No matter what kind of prescription you have, you must show identification to pick up your medicine.

If you have a bank ID, you can log in to most pharmacies and pay for your prescription online and have it sent home to you. You can also buy non prescription items, handle prescription medicin for your child and set up powers of attorney so that you can pick up medicine for someone else. Pretty handy if you are sick (or lazy like me) and don’t want to go to a physical pharmacy when you are down with the flu.

Pharmacies’ Benefits Scheme

You pay a maximum of SEK 2,300 a year for medicines covered by what’s knowin as the ‘pharmaceutical benefit scheme’. This is called the high-cost threshold (Högkostnadsskydd). The county council pays for costs exceeding that amount.

Medicines covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

  • Most prescription medicines
  • Stoma care products
  • Disposable items needed to administer medicines
  • Disposable items needed to check your medication

Are you entitled to pharmaceutical benefits?

Yes you are, if you:

  • are a resident in Sweden.
  • Work here or have a European Health Insurance Card.
  • Have prescriptions that were written in Sweden.

Once you have purchased medicines for a total of SEK 2,300 during a twelve-month period, you are entitled to a free pass within the high-cost threshold system for the remainder of this twelve-month period.

Although the free pass only applies after you spend SEK 2,300, you receive incremental benefits when you spend a certain amount according to the discount system shown below.

The incremental discount system below shows the co-pay corresponding to certain medicine prices. The discount for each new purchase is based on the previous purchase.

You do not pay anything for disposable items needed to check your medication and disposable items needed to administer medicines.

Total costYour shareYour maximum payment
SEK 0 – 1,150100 %SEK 0 – 1,150
SEK 1,150 – 2,19550 %SEK 1,150 – 1,673
SEK 2,195 – 4,07825 %SEK 1,673 – 2,143
SEK 4,078 – 5,64510 %SEK 2,143 – 2,300
SEK 5,6450 %SEK 2,300

It is important to note that the high-cost threshold database does not keep a record of what medicines you received or which doctors prescribed them. The database keeps a record of your personal identity number, co-payment paid, date of purchase, the amount you have reached in the high-cost threshold system, and the starting date of the high-cost threshold period.

Common Swedish pharmacies

Loyds apotek* one of the known pharmacies in Sweden, which has physical stores around the country as well as an online store. It provides plenty of services:

  • you can pick up your Electronic prescribing by logging in through your BankID
  • They  perform medical ear piercing in stores.
  • For pet owners, they have a partnership with FirstVet. When your pet gets consultation through FirstVet, LloydsApotek offers you a 20% discount on a range of veterinary medicines. Hence, you get your pet’ consultation and  medicine online in the comfort of your own home.

MEDS* is a mobile pharmacy with fast delivery. They claim to be able to deliver to up to within an hour depending on where you live. Their pharmacist can assist you via email, phone and chat.

These are just some of the pharmacy chains you find in Sweden and they all provide online solutions so work for all newbies regardless of where in Sweden you live. But you can also just do a search on Google for “apotek + the name of your town” and you will find the nearest physical pharmacies.

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  • Online courses
  • Just arrived
    ▼
    • 10 things to get you started
    • Visa & Residence permit
      ▼
      • Visa
      • Residence permit
        ▼
        • About residence permits
        • Temporary residence
        • Permanent residence permit
        • Residence based on family ties
        • Residence permit based on employment
        • Work permits for young people
        • Residence permit for students
        • Residence for asylum seeker
        • Residence permits for EU citizens
    • Register for a personal identity number
      ▼
      • About the Swedish Tax Agency
      • Why you need an identity number
      • Register for a identity number
    • Register for welfare
      ▼
      • About the Swedish welfare system
      • Register with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency
      • Housing allowance
      • Parental leave and allowance
      • Sickness benefits
    • Get an ID-card
    • Set up phone and broadband
      ▼
      • Network coverage in Sweden
      • Find the right phone plan
      • Broadband plans
    • Get insurance
      ▼
      • Get a Home insurance
      • Usual insurance types
      • Pet insurance
    • Get your bank life started
      ▼
      • Get a bank account and BankID
      • Have you been denied a bank account?
    • Set up an electricity contract in Sweden
    • Medborgarkontor – citizens advice bureau
    • Social orientation for newcomers
    • The Refugee Guide to Sweden
      ▼
      • Apply for asylum in Sweden
      • Swedish for Refugees
      • Housing for asylum-seekers
      • Work, internships & voluntering
      • Make friends & connect with locals
      • Healthcare for asylum seekers
      • The Newbie Guide To the Swedish Authority Jungle 
    • LGBT Rights in Sweden 
  • Swedish
    ▼
    • Where to learn Swedish?
      ▼
      • Self-studies and tools
      • Svenska för invandrare, SFI
      • Svenska som andraspråk, SAS
      • Swedish for professionals and academics
      • Swedish at a Swedish university
      • Private Swedish courses and teachers
        ▼
        • ELANS Swedish education
        • The Swedish Teacher
        • Swedish with Mumm
        • JC Learning
    • Why learn Swedish?
    • How to learn Swedish?
    • Swedish Language Tests
    • Swedish requirements for higher Education
    • Swedish Spelling Software
    • Swedish student aid, CSN
  • Work
    ▼
    • How to find work
      ▼
      • How to start looking for a job
      • The Public Employment Service
        ▼
        • General services
        • Employment help for Newbies
      • For foreign-born graduates & professionals
        ▼
        • What you should know
        • Korta vägen – training program foreign born graduates
        • SIFA & SFX – Swedish for professionals and academics
        • Mitt Livs Chans – Mentoring Program
      • Staffing agencies
      • International recruitment agencies
    • Labour Legislation
      ▼
      • Swedish work law
      • Employment types
      • Checklist for signing a contract
      • Labour Unions
      • Unemployment insurance
      • A-kassa temporary rules
    • Networking & support
      ▼
      • Find a job through networking
      • Jobbsprånget
      • Korta vägen – training program foreign born graduates
      • Mitt Livs Chans – Mentoring Program
      • SWENCL – Sweden’s Engineers Club
      • Volontärbyrån
      • The Job Coach
    • The Swedish labour market
      ▼
      • Professions where workers are needed
      • Regulated professions
    • Fired?
    • Overtime & public holidays
    • The Newbie Work Guides
      ▼
      • Step one: make yourself interesting for employers
      • Step two: Get visible on the work market
      • Step three: Expand your network
    • The Newbie Startup Guide
      ▼
      • Market Validation
      • Register your business
  • Housing
    ▼
    • Accommodation in Sweden
    • Find accommodation in Sweden
    • Emergency rental solutions
    • Temporary housing solutions
    • Write a great rental application
    • How to avoid fraud
    • Legal stuff and housing
      ▼
      • How do I know if a housing contract is legitimate?
      • What can I do if my rent is “way” over the market price?
      • What do I do when the landlord refuses to return the deposit?
  • Health
    ▼
    • The Swedish Health System
      ▼
      • Emergency!
        ▼
        • Emergency? Call 112!
        • Important phone numbers
        • Cardiac arrest
      • Health Centre
      • Specialist Treatment & Referrals
      • Free Choice of Care
      • Health Care Guarantee
      • Medical help online
      • How to buy prescription medicines
    • Sexual and Reproductive Health
      ▼
      • Sexual & Reproductive Care 
      • Contraception
      • Morning-after-pill
      • Abortion
      • Sexually Transmitted Illness – STI
    • Dental Care
    • Costs & Fees
      ▼
      • Patient Fees & High-Cost Protection
      • Health care costs – What applies to you?
      • European Health Insurance Card
    • Funeral arrangements
  • Driving
    ▼
    • Which licenses are valid in Sweden?
    • Exchange a driving license from an EU country
    • Driving license from a non-EU country
    • The Step-By-Step Guide To A Swedish Driving License
  • Services
    ▼
    • Moving to Sweden
  • Get connected
    ▼
    • The Swedish Red Cross – Röda korset
    • Nya Kompisbyrån
    • Panion
    • Internationella Bekantskaper
    • Kompis Sverige
  • The Refugee Guide to Sweden
    ▼
    • Apply for asylum in Sweden
    • Swedish for Refugees
    • Work, internships & voluntering
    • Housing for asylum-seekers
    • Healthcare for asylum seekers
    • Make friends & connect with locals
  • Blogs
    ▼
    • Blog
    • العربية
    • Recommended blogs and accounts
  • Newbie Stories
  • About
    ▼
    • Who we are
      ▼
      • The short facts
      • The Newbie Team
      • Meet our Newbie Bloggers
    • Advertise with us
    • Newbie partners
    • Media Kit
    • Are you an Oldbie or a Newbie?
    • Miss something?
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    • Contact us
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