Being A Doctor In The US vs Sweden

In this video, my friend Fredrick discusses what it takes to become a doctor in Sweden and what his life is like working as a medical professional. We compare knowledge as I explain and contrast his experiences to my knowledge of the process of becoming a doctor in the US.

[@cherioliphant]

I once read about a practicing Swedish physician who worked in the US briefly only to return to Sweden when he saw the conditions of his patients trying to obtain medications-the cost of insulin, etc. He was horrified and could not continue to participate in the system.

[@elliott7630]

...and then he castrated himself and lived as a hobo deep in the russian forests

[@asllaniiiii]

@@elliott7630 What!!Boy,educate yourself🤣

[@mikaelandersson5936]

You read....did you research the validity of this situation? How off base can you be...

[@asllaniiiii]

@@mikaelandersson5936 You missed the point lol

[@karl-erikmumler9820]

I have a close friend who worked at an American hospital for a few months as part of her training. She says she could never work in the USA.

[@robyoungquist5803]

I was finally able to practice pediatrics on my own at age 34. I never had the time nor inclination to date up until then because of my grueling studies and schedules. I can tell you that in my first semester of med school we started out with 175 of us. On day one the Dean told us … “take a good look around at your fellow students. You won’t see half of them next semester.” He was frighteningly correct. 🤨. By the time I graduated, I kid you not, there were 30 of us in my graduating class. I missed being the highest in the class by ONE POINT! When it came time for me to take my Boards, only two of us passed on the first try. Several had to take the Boards a second time having failed the first go round. And the balance of the rest, I think 6 classmates had to take them three times over … and they failed. Know what happens when you fail the third time? You start med school all over again from day one. 😳. Needless to say, they gave up. I’m now recently retired and happy that I had the career. As a side note, when I first started to practice when Moms brought in their children to see me, they valued my education and experience. By the time I retired, when I entered the exam room and after listening to the reason for the visit, I’d ask the Mom … I’m sure you consulted Dr. Google before coming in today, so what did he have to say? That way I knew how much misinformation I had to wade through and how much correct teaching I had to do. 😉👍🏻. Still I miss the little ones. As I’ll as they were, they gave me more joy than I could have ever hoped for. It was a great career ☺️

[@freemason4979]

Hello and thanks for an interesting comment. One question: Ive bee looking at some lectures and interviews by US doctors, especially pediatricians, who say that unnecessary government regulations weigh heavy up on them and up to 40% of their time goes into paperwork of this nature. Also they maintain that a big part of high US healthcare cost is anti competitive regulations, i.e. existing hospitals/corporations make it hard to start another hospital in their are etc. Just interested in ur view. Toby from Iceland

[@robyoungquist5803]

@@freemason4979 Hello Toby 😊. Simple answer: Yes that’s correct, but let me explain … Unlike Scandinavian/EU Countries, the backwards U.S. does not have Universal/Single Payer Healthcare. Our citizens must purchase health insurance from individual companies. This is insane. Each company has their own rules and regulations about what they will/will not cover. Hence we are buried in regulatory restrictions and piles and piles and piles of paperwork. IMHO, Insurance Companies should be charged with “practicing medicine without a license” because they are making decisions that are not necessarily beneficial to the Patient and certainly have not examined the Patient.Add to that, that the U.S. Citizen loves to litigate. Many Physicians joined Healthcare “Groups” because these organizations erroneously pitched the idea that the Physicians wouldn’t have to worry about the paperwork or staffing of their offices. These Healthcare Groups are usually aligned with a large area hospital. What has happened is that these Groups now tell the Member Physician that they will see x number of patients per day, when their offices will be open for business, etc. When they first came on scene, I told myself that “you didn’t go to med school all those years only to have someone tell you how to run your practice “ and so I stayed independent from the Group and ran my own practice and that decision was one of the best I ever made. 😉👍🏻

[@zpokie123]

@@robyoungquist5803 yeah its insane that doctors have to manage staff. In swden doctors are just employed and they have people that does the hireing ans schedualing

[@drew4021]

So glad you did this video Stefan. It's a beast becoming a physician in the US. There are licensing exams, residency, cost etc -all major hurdles. IMO not worth it -unless you have a real passion for the profession. The doctors I know are all burnt out and even the ones smart about this process are not doing so well everywhere else in life

[@thes.a.s.s.1361]

Well, I feel that every degree in the US needs to be more streamlined. Like why did I need to take an advanced calculus class, 9 credits of humanities, 2 sociology classes, and a knitting class to become an Occupational Therapist? I think in every major once you do your internship outside the class the first thing you're told is "You know all that stuff you learned in class.....throw it out the window, here's what you need to know"

[@lornalong6468]

My experience as a patient in Sweden vs a healthcare system similar to the US's (in South Africa, for example) is that Sweden obviously offers EXCELLENT National Health benefits. Costs per visit to any practitioner or X-Ray, MRI, etc are limited to Kr200/visit (± $18.35). After spending Kr2,000 ($183.50), all medical treatment thereafter is for free for a year. A similar cap exists for prescribed medictions. If you consider a large amount of yr salary goes to family healthcare & medical insurance, your taxes in Sweden put many $1000s back in your pocket annually from your after tax income. This translates into salaries not being so much related to the exorbitantly high fees private surgeons may charge in specific fields in the US. Salaries in Sweden in general also 'go a lot further' due to the government supplying so much to the individual (children's education & all healthcare absolutely free to age 18), which underpins the fact that a higher salary in the US is NOT equivalent in Sweden. Even though people earn less in Sweden, they have between 20-40%+ lower living costs vs the US. Add to that that Sweden has a 'cap' on rental prices, Swedes are still paying no more than 30% of their gross income on rent. Whereas the rental market in the US in particular has become really exploitative, with rental going up as high as 60-70% of gross income. The government supports all university students with course costs, accommodation & an allowance for food, internet, etc, so few University students stay living with Mom & Dad - so the Swedish government takes on the vast majority of a child's educational & healthcare costs leaving parents with a lot more cash in hand vs other countries. I also noticed this anaesthetist mentioning the nursing sisters in Sweden fulfilling roles I would have thought to be a 'doctor/specialist' level role. Sweden has Nursing sisters, who are almost at a Doctor's level in terms of the responsibilities & role they fulfil. And then you have fleets of Nursing Assistants (2 yr basic course+ specialisation courses) - so called Undersköterskor, who fulfil all the inserting of catheters, injections, blood tests, blood pressure & physical aid kind of stuff. You barely get to see or speak to a Doctor or Surgeon unless you have gone through a long rigmarole with the Nursing Sister and typically a Physiotherapist first. In Sweden all healthcare starts with a patient education program/information, 6-9 months of physiotherapy and typically weight loss or dietary changes. When you get to see a surgeon you have already had an X-Ray and are in the midst of discussing your surgery straight off the bat. So you can typically only chat to a a Nursing Sister & the Specialist is really elusive.

[@neamuff]

When i gave birth in Sweden with the best care i could Ask for i got a Bill of 15 usd, a friend of Mine Who gave birth in the usa got a Bill of 4000 usd having the insurence. It sounds insane

[@mikejames8031]

WHY??? Sweden is bankrupting themselves because of their social programs as is most Countries who offer Health care. They have high taxes where in the USA they don't in most States. Look at Canada, they are bankrupt. Free isn't free and it's not necessarily good all the time. America's health care sucks because our politicians suck and they aren't very smart. Thiink about this...81 million or so people voted for Biden who is a complete moron. He does not have the brain capacity to fix or do anything. He ran twice before and the people threw him out. Look at the Democrats...never worked a day in their lives but they are running the Country. Very SAD!!!! Do you really think Biden has the knowledge to fix the health care system, fix SSA, fix our military, fix our military health care, stop global climate change or anything????

[@willisamaryllis]

As an aspiring Veterinarian wanting to live in Sweden, I’d love if you could get someone on. This video was amazing!

[@h06nort]

Sweden is very short on veterinarians. So you will have it super easy with geting a job!!

[@Keydjes]

Yes, we need more vets. Exotic vets, specialized avian vets, there is a dark hole for birds in the vet-world

[@willisamaryllis]

@@Keydjes an exotic vet is exactly what I want to be

[@anyathornqvist4602]

I am a Swedish practicing veterinarian since about ten years. Is there something in particular that you want to know? :)

[@SuperCaptain4]

I think what would be really interesting is talking to a Swedish doctor who works in the US or a US doctor who works in Sweden. I spontaneously expect they had quite the culture shock when arriving 🛬

[@ClofsiLXIX]

Hello I am a homosapien from Sweden. Something I dont like with the US is that if you for example get a heart attack in Sweden the goverment is with you but in the US the only thing on your side is your wallet

[@IVelkanI]

What a great video Stefan! I want to go to Sweden to take the same medical residency Fredrick is taking. If he can speak more about it or if I can send you some questions for him I would really appreciate the help.

[@Stacieleighmay]

I’d love it if you could do a video about being a Nurse in Sweden and how it compares to the profession in the USA.

[@shaunlover74]

You should mention for the benefit of American viewers that in Sweden, all college/university studies are free for all Swedish and other EU citizens, no tuition fees.

[@mariaengfors6723]

Not only free, you actually get paid to go, about 330 dollars/month.

[@sebastiansjoholm1307]

@@mariaengfors6723 and what does 330 dollars get you in sweden ? not much at all, we have to take loans like everyone else or work to have sustainable life while we study if we dont live at home.

[@tommysoder1387]

@@sebastiansjoholm1307 It pays the rent for your student room you’re living in, and might even be enough for paying some of your food or books. But yes, unless you can work some extra hours you need to take a loan. The student loans however have amazingly low interest rates! So there’s no problem paying them of in Sweden.

[@sebastiansjoholm1307]

@@tommysoder1387 mayby IF you lived in THE 90s Still it for pay for a room. Nowdays No it doesnt really pay for a room but it helps I am a student in Sweden, butTHE loans are Good with almost 0 interest that is true. But nothing is free, everything is paid with taxes. So wouldnt say we get paid or get it for free, we simply pay for it in a diffrent manner.

[@tommysoder1387]

@@sebastiansjoholm1307 In Umeå where I studied it definitley still pays for a room.

[@zpokie123]

Yeah. Elected surgery in sweden is a pain in the but. My mom had to do surgery on hey veins amd she had to wait for 7 years in pain. But if she went to a private clinic they could do it in 2 weeks but she would have to pay like 10 grand

[@honeyfromthebee]

I think one difference worth mentioning is that finishing "high school" over here actually means you've had one more year of school than graduating seniors in the US. So many people already have, for example, 3 years of chemistry and 3 years of biology before starting college here Though it was touched on, another thing that speeds up the process up here, is that in the US you have 4 years for your bachelor, but you end up taking some courses not even related to medicine (so I've been told) so I would think that that drags out process as well I can say from personal experience that most of the books I've had so far at uni have actually been American textbooks, so I would think we're probably getting pretty comparable educations despite spending less time doing so

[@mikejames8031]

OK...but when I think of great advances in science, or technology I do not think of Sweden as the leader. Oh wait flight began in Sweden...no that was America.

[@JM-rn4cb]

@@mikejames8031 Despite Sweden only being about 3% as big as the US in terms of population they more than hold their own. They are the home of the Nobel Prizes and also The Karolina Institute which is ranked as one of the best medical schools in the world. The may not have invented the airplane but I'd say they're doing ok.

[@bbeightynine]

Not completely true. You can’t really compare “high school” with “gymnasium” and it is also a stretch of the truth that you can go on in to medical school “directly” after “gymnasium”. There are a lot of criterias you have to meet to be eligible for medical school in Sweden. And you kind of have to have read natural science in the “gymnasium” just to eligible - otherwise you have to read up on natural science (1-2 years) before you can apply for medical school. And when I was young (guess it could be different today) it was very hard competition to get in to medical school, like only 2-3 % of the applicants were admitted. You likes had to have only highest grades 5.0 or 4.9 to have a chance to get in. Very few had that. But i guess it could be easier today as less and less people want to be a doctor / study that long.

[@TinaDanielsson]

Yeah I would compare our 3 year "gymnasium" with their 4 year pre med college and our 6 year university with their 4 year med school. So the education is actually longer in Sweden.

[@liahk1000]

I wouldn't say the process in the US is longer than in Sweden. He didn't mention it but in Sweden there is a lot of "waiting time" before getting the internship, and then before getting the residency. So in theory the fastest way to become a specialist is 5.5y+21months+5y, but this is very rarely the case. In Stockholm the waiting time before internship for example has been 2 y for a long time. This is cause all the programs for internship and residencies are decided kinda by the regions health division, like how many per year at each hospital they are willing to pay for. So for example I worked at a clinic (I'm a doctor) and they told me first after working there 9 months (was forced to take many long shifts, working 80 hours weeks every other week) that they wouldn't get any residency position for several years. Yet they were severely understaffed (the reason they made my schedule so full). So for them the ideal situation would be to have a junior doctor to isn't actually officially enrolled in the residency program, but gives them cheap labor. But as a doctor you just want to advance as soon as possible obviously so it sucks being in that position to have to accept short term contracts in hope to get a residency. And not getting it doesn't have to depend on not qualifying but that there's actually a huge mismatch in the numbers of residency positions needed and how many positions the regions politicians provide. This is a downside of having the health care only run by the public sector. They keep the numbers of positions for internship and residencies low in order to keep the salaries down, or rather to get more years of each doctor in a relative underpaid position. I've heard that when you look at the actual numbers Sweden is one of the countries with the longest time from starting medical school to becoming a specialist, for this reason.

[@MrLalanjo]

Thank you for an interesting episode. In my view one major difference in school systems are that in Sweden you can do much of the of your pre requisites to go into Med school or Law school, engineering etc in Gymnasiet( High school). But also as Dr Fredrick said the Med school in Sweden is then slightly longer than in the US, but overall it will be shorter since we dont have to do the 4 year bachelor program. Frankly alot of the mandatory classes in US college we cover in Gymnasiet. But this also means that you already in 9th grade should have a good understanding if you want to go into Med School and choose the "Natur" - program in Gymnasiet that focus heavily on Math, Biology, Chemistry and Physics

[@deedee2]

In U.S. a pre-med program is a weed-out program. You have like 1000 students taking their first pre-med class in their first semester of college, but only like 100 of them will finish the program and apply to med school. Also, once you finish medical school in the U.S. you are not automaticlly licenced to pracice medicine, you'll have to take licensing exams called USMLEs...A doctor in Sweden told me that he makes only $50K a year after taxes.

[@moubhattacharyya1141]

I am not a doctor and no idea about their earnings in particular. What I want to add is Sweden is not a capitalist society, nor the capital of capitalism. Medical sector is not considered as a lucrative business area in this country. It is rather considered to be one of the basic services people are entitled to get. This is the thought pattern existing among the people, doctors, lawmakers alike.

[@olexxr8503]

I think a doctor in Sweden earn more than 50 K ..

[@deedee2]

@@olexxr8503 You think wrong.

[@mikaelandersson5936]

Wow...do you have any real clues...don't make comments on stuff you do t have facts about....

[@ivt0]

Youre wrong

[@Gsoda35]

I love it when you and others talk about life experiences and more. very thankful for the doctors that saved my quality of life when they removed my appendix. even told me it's look. peoples knowledge made me respect people.

[@GA-lx6ib]

Episode 2 please! I’m a pharmacist in the US and this was fascinating. What is the pharmacist role in the hospital? Hospitals are so understaffed here that people hardly ever get breaks, it’s ridiculous. Is there a hospitalist on staff 24/7? Liability insurance? We have to have liability insurance..Thank you both

[@arrrne2002]

I might be way out of line here and please correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know, a pharmacist doesn't have a role in the hospital. They are more of a "product specialist" at the pharmacy, giving out prescribed medication and recommending products for "everyday things", like colds and stuff like that. They help people with the things that are "not severe enough" to see a doctor for.

[@krippan91]

In fact, it is the case that pharmacologists here in Sweden absolutely work in the hospital. The role in hospitals is usually to review and adjust patients' drug lists, consult doctors about drug interactions and drug changes, etc.

[@GA-lx6ib]

Pharmacists in the US hospitals have significant roles. All of the orders have to be reviewed and verified by a pharmacist before the nurse can administer and thank goodness because we discover life threatening errors on a daily basis. We monitor drug levels, go on rounds and adjust many therapies within collaborative agreements. They respond to codes as well.

[@Mycenaea]

Hospitals are understaffed here in Sweden too.

[@trishloughman5998]

In Ireland it is possible to go into a medical training programme directly from school, so we can have people fully qualified as doctors in their early 20s.

[@petee0069]

Some points about sweden that i read about myself when i was thinking about entering this field and have friends in the field: AT : you apply and get your license after 6year of study, and salary can range from 30K SEK - 50K SEK, if you get position in any big city you often get less salary but it looks better on paper and might get better experience, as well it helps for your ST field. ST (specialist): takes around 6 years to finish, and salary ranged from 50K SEK and up Note just as with AT your salary will range depending on what hospital/city you work and also what you are specialized in. At the hospitals in the big cities they sometimes have filled the "quota" of doctors hired, but the patient intake is higher than what they are staffed for, so some doctors and also nurses tend to work a lot of extra time and some times cannot even take out vacation, of course it is not same on all hospitals but it is always an idea to check this up before hand. One thing to compare about between US and Sweden is also all the fees, tax and insurances between the countries, in sweden you will not have as many nor as high mandatory payments you need to do so you get to keep most of your salary compared to in US where you can have to pay quite a big sum. Theres a lot of foreign doctors who come to Sweden to work due to better conditions and payments, i know some from Spain who moved to Sweden for ex. Another thing ive seen some do, doctors who specialize in fields that there is not many doctors in often open up their "own clinic" just to be hired by the Hospital, the difference is that they then can charge quite big sums for their service and it is the government that has to pay it.

[@QuesttoFIRE]

I found this really interesting! I thought about moving to Sweden and doing ultrasound there- but from what I understand, most doctors do their own scanning. Is that true?😱 I’d love an episode on how working in radiology in Sweden is!

[@elsa2190]

Well I would say it’s mostly radiology-nurses who does ultrasounds and scans, then they send it to the radiologist who takes a look at it and makes the ”decision” but I think most of the time in Sweden that the actual radiologist doesnt do the exam. But I don’t 100% know

[@zpokie123]

@@elsa2190 it depends on what they are looking for. If it's just a basic ultrasound or If they find something wierd, then they will call in the doctor to take a closer look with the ultrasound just so they get every angle they want instead of calling the patient back in a day later just to do it again. But yeah usually the radiologists have their office right next to the exam rooms so they can just pop in and out if they are needed

[@elsa2190]

@@zpokie123 aa , jag utgick bara det jag vet ifrån min mammas jobb som röntgensjuksköterska :)

[@rhalme]

@@elsa2190 I've had ultrasound done on my heart twice, and both those times it was done by a person who was neither a doctor nor a nurse, but a different profession specialised in performing the actual examination. I also once had an ultrasound on my testicles, and that was done by a doctor. I'm guessing it depends on exactly what is being examined.

[@philpaisley2364]

Actually in US you can do Premed in college go to med school then intern and residency

[@josefinelagerstrom2643]

Det vore kul att se om ni kan gissa vad olika behandlingar och operationer kostar i USA. Jag tror Fredrik kommer bli chockad över priserna.

[@oscargreat]

Wow, Fredrik's English is great.

[@alepa2357]

The stick/automatic license thing is atleast a nordic thing. If you take your licence with a manual you can drive both, if with auto then you drive auto. Unless you upgrade your licence. And that is a pretty failsafe system.

[@regu7637]

Superintressant video! Tack!

[@josefinelagerstrom2643]

It's a bit sad that you have to become a doctor you need to have perfect grades. It makes sense in the subjects that are relevant, but not all of them. It's the same situation if you want to be a veterinarian or lawyer. 😟

[@GeneRauXxX]

Yeap Definitely we want the second part.

[@noweyeknow7352]

We should do a collab sometime! Talking to doctors coming to sweden vs other countries

[@JN-kk4nk]

Hi Stephen ! I would like to get in touch with your Friend Frederick ! Could you tell me where I could find him please ?

[@partsgeriausias]

You forgot to maintain that Swedish healthcare system like in all other aspects there id a very positive work environment, you dont address your colleagues by”doctor” “nurse” but just by their first name. Lunchtime and rest are crucial and overwoking is not seen as a positive thing like in the US. Its a much more pleasent environment to work in compared to America. You might earn more but you will enjoy your money only when you are retired and completely burned out. In Sweden you can start enjoying life right away.

[@AR-zx6lv]

Stefan i just saw like 10 episode of your vloggs today :D du är så himla duktig och ärlig och jag gillar dig massor! fortsätt med det du gör! du är grym! bäst :)

[@Darkurge666]

So there are private health insurance in Sweden and private hospitals and people get it to not have to wait in line for certain treatments. More advanced surgery is not available privately so for that you need to wait in line. There are insurance that guarantees treatment within a certain time frame in another country. In general Swedish Healthcare is really good, once you get it. But waiting time can be a year if you're unlucky and then you better not have something that needs treatment urgently. For non life threatening surgery you might have to wait several months. It's next to free, but then we also have really high taxes so it'd not like you're not paying.

[@Darkurge666]

Any kind of plastic surgery that isn't sure to burning injuries, cancer or similarly, is only available privately (I.e. nose jobs, implants etc).

[@latjolajban81]

For urgent treatment you don't have to wait long.

[@gunlindblad6816]

This is bullshit. I was just in the hospital, there is no waitingtime for urgent surgery in Sweden. What do you think? That they send people home with a serios problem? Reality check!

[@moubhattacharyya1141]

@@Darkurge666 those are not medical conditions. In english it is rightfully called cosmetic surgery, for a reason. It is by choice in most cases not otherwise.

[@thecourageousorange]

@@Darkurge666 As they should be. I wouldn't like my taxes to go to someones nose job just because they don't like their nose.

[@rhalme]

My endocrinologist took time off from his job here in Sweden to go to the US to do research. Presumably about type 1 diabetes, as that is his main subspecialty. I'll ask him about his experiences over there when he gets back.

[@jameelahedwards8550]

Cool topic. I'm looking forward to more

[@GeneRauXxX]

Could he answer questions like. Difference between specialties in Sweden(like in family medicine in USA vs Sweden) do they welcome doctors from other countries? More detail on salaries? And does he think that becoming a doctor in Sweden worths to the efforts?

[@lornalong6468]

The biggest thing you need to be able to do in Sweden is speak to your patients in fluent Swedish.

[@GeneRauXxX]

@@lornalong6468 keep talking to your doctor outside of work so she/he can be fluent in Swedish. If you want to chat go ahead. Hmu.

[@oskar6607]

1) if you have a foreign non-EU license you will need to learn Swedish plus pass extensive exams 2) salaries are lower in Sweden in general and for doctors in particular. A finished specialist might earn 75.000-100.000 SEK per month before tax.

[@GeneRauXxX]

you think salary is good or not? minimum wage is around 22k sek I guess. mean salary is about 35--40k sek. @@oskar6607

[@thes.a.s.s.1361]

I have a question. I work in healthcare in the U.S. and I've heard rumors that in Europe if you need a knee or hip replacement in order to function. It's like a 3 year wait and a ton of hoops to go through to get approval. Is this true? I guess it would depend on the country. But Sweden specifically.

[@liahk1000]

Hi, I'm a doctor in Sweden so maybe I can answer. I think there's a big difference they people get approved for surgery much easily in the US compared to Sweden, but I never worked in the US at all so can't be sure. Here the GP sends a referral to an orthopedic surgeon for hip replacement. However the orthopedic surgeon won't even accept the referral, won't see the patient, unless certain things have been done first. I think it's necessary with like 3 months of physiotherapy focusing in improving the function of that joint. Once approved though there's usually a waiting time to up to 6 months to see the orthopedic surgeon. Once accepted for surgery the waiting time for that is also very long, can be up to a year.

[@thes.a.s.s.1361]

@@liahk1000 Its kind of similar in the US. Kind of. But, your GP would send for X-rays, MRI, etc for more narrowed down diagnosis (arthritic hip vs anything out of the ordinary like bone cancer, femoral neck fracture, etc.) then refer you to orthopedic surgeon if the cartilage is gone, bone spurs developing etc. orthopedic surgeon would to refer you to Physical Therapy to see if it would help depending on the severity, which I believe is a good thing because that will assist in strengthening the joint and if the patient is compliant with physical therapy program that means the patient will be compliant after joint replacement. Then it’s usually 6 weeks get the hip replaced, hospital 3 days at most and go home with either home physical and occupational therapy for 4-8 weeks. Then it’s outpatient therapy. Tack så mycket.

[@liahk1000]

Hi! Ok sounds pretty similar then! Except huge differencein waiting time😄 We have a policy (maybe a law?) that procedures like hip replacement shouldn't have more than 90 days waiting time. If it does then the patient has the right to get the treatment elsewhere. In Sweden the health care system is run exclusively by the different regions of the country, there's no national coordination whatsoever but every region works in complete isolation when it comes to Healthcare, more or less. But if the region has a waiting time for 6 months say then the patient has the right to the information that he can get the surgery in another part of the country. So sometimes it's done this way too. Regarding some very specific surgeries like pancreatic cancer surgery, I know they knew patients to Finland to get surgery when they couldn't provide it in time. They also just didn't operate within reasonable time for many patients , who does awaiting surgery.. this was in the news a few years ago.. so certainly our waiting time needs to improve.

[@morilot]

Sweden do have 'free' health care for it's citizens. With 'free I pay like $10 to see a nurse or a doctor or ever a specialist, also there's a maximum fee of like $150 a year and another maximum of $150 a year for medicine. This applies to all citizens of EU to some degree. If you a foreigner from outside EU or the Nordics you'll only get health care that cannot wait. For other healthcare foreigners might also get to pay, but it's still subsidised to a degree. I.e. if you are a paperless illegal immigrant you will be treated for your diabetes no question asked, but an American tourist with a flue needs to show insurance papers for a consultation.

[@ozymandiascakehole3586]

Incentives are indeed different, doctors in Europe often don't get payed a lot. In the US you can make a lot of money being a doctor. (e:gr)

[@troyeakb6314]

how about checking the cost of living and the pay per hour stats doctors in USA work a lot,they barely have time for their private life, therefore the more hours you work,more the salary whilst doctors in Sweden don't work for long hours,they spend the time with families and traveling also USA is 37% more expensive than Sweden

[@JorgeGarcia-ne3ws]

it would have been nice to hear the swedish doc have a say or two,.

[@wertywerrtyson5529]

I’m a swede and I’ve had extensive surgery and you don’t pay anything or just the regular 20 bucks you pay to see a doctor no matter what they need to do. However the doctors can decline things because they think it is too expensive. For example my aunt was declined a more detailed look to see if she had cancer by a more senior doctor despite the residency doctor wanting to give one because he thought it was a waste of tax payer money and she died because of it. So on the plus side if they can see there is something clearly wrong with you like in mine case getting burning oil over me they will fix you up for free but they are not very thorough at looking for things because they have a budget to stick to and they don’t want to “waste” money looking for problems. Also many doctors and nurses in Sweden are rude because they are basically unfirable so unless they happen to be decent people who are naturally nice there are no incentives for them to be nice. There is always a shortage of nurses and doctors so you can’t be fired for being rude and it isn’t like a customer can choose another clinic or that they need your money like they would in the US. Since they are paid the same either way there is no incentive to keep customers. So there are downsides with socialised medicine but I still prefer it over paying hundred of thousands of dollars for a surgery like in the US or pay very expensive insurance.

[@ugo7395]

Du kan köpa försäkring och gå till ett privat sjukhus. Man slipper vänta och de brukar vara trevligare

[@wertywerrtyson5529]

@@ugo7395 Jag vet inga privata sjukhus i delen av landet där jag bor. Det är nog mer för Stockholmarna. Dessutom kostar det väl mycket. Men det är väl bra att möjligheten åtminstone finns. Jag har inget emot att folk väljer privat sjukvård eller skola osv men där jag bor finns endast en skola och en vårdcentral så finns inte direkt något att välja på så då får man bara hoppas det fungerar så bra som möjligt.

[@moubhattacharyya1141]

I have never met a doctor who is rude. Lucky me I guess. Not any regular nurse who is rude either.

[@rhalme]

@@moubhattacharyya1141 Very, very lucky you. About a year ago I met a doctor who didn't let me finish a single sentence, and what little she actually permitted me to say, she didn't answer, but instead she answered claims I'd never made, and she did all this with incredible arrogance and demeaning attitude. This was so stressful that I ended up leaving to avoid a panic attack that might have caused me to become violent. I still have nightmares about her. For real. Honestly, if I end up with a life threatening condition that she and only she can treat, I'll still refuse her help. I'm not saying every doctor is like that, or even that a lot are. But they do exist.

[@moubhattacharyya1141]

@@rhalme that's bad. Hope you are doing well now. . wish you peace and health.

[@rgrrrr884]

It was really organize here in Sweden amd i was overwhelmed with the structure.So they have likesystem that evry medical history is being use wherever you are.And changing of profession is pretty usually here like when you are in your 50s and you want to be a doctor you can qork until 70 here.

[@RovingReader]

This was super interesting, thank you :)

[@DrDLJT]

How easy is it for UK trained doctor to move to Sweden and work?

[@saraduarte4082]

Make a video about nurses please 🙏😊

[@enisten]

IIRC, anesthesiologists and radiologists are the most well-paid specialists in the US. What would it take for this guy to move to the US, if he wanted to?

[@liahk1000]

You need to take the medical exams in the US which is not easy..requires a lot of preparation. They are similar to the medical exams in Sweden I've heard but well, a few years after graduating and everything is gone..

[@dimitriosfromgreece4227]

BRAVO ❤️❤️❤️❤️ love from sweden Stockholm

[@farcuf]

This was so interesting.

[@heureuse8568]

Very intersting Stefan (and Fredrick)! More interviews like this, also with other topics that's close to your ❤. I saw a documentary many years ago about a hospital in the US that took care of drug addicts with overdoses. They did it for free, and almost got bankrupt. I think some of them even got brought in by helicopter... A beautiful thing, but what if all of us could pay for it, so that individual hospitals doesn't have to suffer.

[@ls-l1518]

This is why the European dream is real, and the US not so much. Here we have free tuition and reasonable student loans and stipends that everyone gets.

[@TheFbiFilesRepeat]

Cant watch this video due to the overuse of the word "like"

[@tariqkhader6196]

Do people in Sweden have to pay to see their GP?

[@blueeyedbaer]

Yes, but it's $10-20 per visit, depending on region. If you need medical services frequently and you go upp to around $200, you don't pay for medical services at all for the rest of the year.

[@Low.carb.keto.youtube]

Ep:2 please

[@MinTitelMamma]

This guy is not getting paid.. 🤷🏼‍♀️ The median salary for a New graduate AT doctors in Sweden. Is 45 000kr/month. A specialist is 85 000kr/month

[@TotalInfarkt]

You know I like to hear what you think of our "religion teaching" here where we got a little more working separation of state and church?

[@matsblom7314]

A doctor in Sweden is not rich like an American doctor But on the other hand They do not have the same responsibility like an American doctor have

[@RealHealthyGuidance]

And less debt

[@krista584]

Not rich, no. But certainly earning plenty more than the average Swedish Joe

[@matsblom7314]

@@krista584 Probably Most swedes are on wellfare And the retirement are under poverty line I have heard From sources LOL

[@ScandinavianPrepper]

Interesting video

[@leorivera9057]

Stefan, I love you and your videos. I’ve been following you for years. But… did you really have to say the word “like” so many times in this video? LOL. No shade, but I’m gonna take a shot every time you say “like.” 🤪

[@swedishpsychopath8795]

As a retired swedish ww2 hero I want to add to the story: We should be thankful and grateful to Norway since most of the nature in the form of scenery, soil / stones and wildlife etc has drifted from the Norwegian hills and mountains to form what today is called sweden. Not many mention this fact - but we should do more to show gratitude toward Norway and the norwegian people. And we should also finally admit that the vikings originally came from Norway (and later spread to sweden and denmark).

[@zpokie123]

Na we should conquer norway and take all their oil and pretty girls. We are wikings after all

[@testtestsson4927]

Wtf? Completely random comment and Sweden was not in ww2 so you can't be a Swedish ww2 soldier lol

[@kjs506]

@@testtestsson4927 He can be, about 15.000 swedes volunteered in ww2 and went to Finland and Norway. although he would be like 80-90 years old at the least so well done finding youtube granpa!

[@donaldliden4545]

@@kjs506 80yrs old if he was born when the war was ongoing,he must be over 100yrs if he was about 18 when he enlisted1😀 but also he would have to be volonteer in any others army if he sees himself as a veteransoldier

[@BlueBlue-mm7kn]

You forgot to mention that in the USA you have to study 1 year for the MCAT before u apply to med school after med school u take the USMLE step 1, an 8 hour comprehensive test. What about people who invest all that time and money and don’t get into med school, now that’s a waste of life. Horrible system if u ask me.

[@Cazzandra]

I'm Swedish, never met a competent doctor here 🙄 Last one I met didn't even give me an examination and could barely speak Swedish 😖

[@mathiasmoller1989]

If you have never met a competent doctor I'm guessing you are the problem, not the doctors...

[@Cazzandra]

@@mathiasmoller1989 sadly no 😁

[@lextaf8271]

Så är det🤷skit vård och sorry men riktigt dåliga läkare.

[@GeneRauXxX]

Why did you not speak English with him/her? If I knew Swedish I would be working over there right now but sadly I cannot speak the language. I want to learn it but it takes a lot of time. But I will try my best. Wish you health.

[@addie1326]

It's imperative that you delete "like" from your vocabulary.

[@muncedev11]

Yes! I find myself saying it too often as well, and it's sooo annoying.

[@jjinwien9054]

Like, like, like, like - maybe not enough words in your basic vocabulary

[@anetteandersson2778]

Interesting

[@kenjohan]

"like, like, like..." 🙂

[@cenzaz]

Nice doctor 😍

[@user-ug7ur5ou5e]

Although sweden have an tax finaced healthcare system with the highest taxes in the world since the late 1960 more then a million sweds, almost 10% of the population have an private health insurance due to poor medical services in the public health care system. Lately sweds also go abroad for treatment because the waiting times are to long, the cost can be paid by the swedish healthcare system. Sweden have the lowest hospital beds per capita in the EU,and huge shortages of doctors in the primary healthcare. Finally there are very big regional differences du to the fact the the regions are responsible for the health care in there region, not the state. For example the survival % in cancer differs depending in wich region the patient is treated.

[@LarsHyerHolmqvist]

The same in Denmark. The system has almost collapsed, so you pay the highest taxes without treatment etc.

[@smusk2006]

That's unfortunately is a political problem. But hey we got a third employment tax credit, right? Lowering the taxes come at a cost and it takes some years to see the effects of it.

[@breadmage5951]

Please cite your sources, since I as a Swedish citizen, med student and a person with an highly compromised immune-system, have seen nothing of the sort. I have seen it in Denmark, however. If you’re correct about this I’d be very keen to know, since it must mean the system has collapsed since I moved. I can’t find any recourses backing this, so please link me your sources x For reference, I grew up in Österåker, moved to Norrtälje in my teens and now live in NZ.

[@LarsHyerHolmqvist]

@@smusk2006 do you really Think it Will help raising taxes, when the highest taxes in the world haven’t fixed the problem. Maybe we should look at best Practice

[@user-ug7ur5ou5e]

@@smusk2006 Higher taxes could by a solution in a country with low taxasion but that not the case with Sweden. So there has to to other solutions.

[@edwinnetto6248]

So in the USA doctors learn how to mutilate baby boys by amputating foreskin, Sweden learn how to care for baby boys body parts instead of amputation!

[@tobiasjansson2912]

Jag har lite frågor. Varför välja Sverige av alla länder i världen? Sen om han funderar på att gå vidare som patolog?

[@yousifbabiker1807]

Menar du gästen? Han är från Sverige!

[@CoCooMa11]

Now, this is from somone that has to be to doctors.... lets just say alot of times every year.... I meet alot of doctors that are seriously just useless... half of them dont even speak my language... Btw, this is in Sweden. From what I have seen around here... the doctors that know stuff goes to the big places while usless people go to small places like where I live.... but seriously... not being able to speak Swedish? thats just F-ing weird, and half the time... I seem to know more medicin than they do just from watching tv shows -.-......

[@CoCooMa11]

@Hans Apollo en av mina bästa läkare skulle just gå i pension, men han lyckades finna min sjukdom, något ingen annan hade gjort under ett antal år.... så Äldre läkare är min grej :P lol

[@thecourageousorange]

Medical shows are often inaccurate.

[@GeneRauXxX]

@@CoCooMa11 what was disease again?

[@CoCooMa11]

@@GeneRauXxX I have a illness called beshterews.... My immune system is attacking all my joints and muscles more or less...

[@CoCooMa11]

Let´s respond to this one, since I know you get it aswell. Older doctors in Sweden have a general knowledge of most illnesses, instead of new doctors that mostly specialize in things. Don´t get me wrong, nothing wrong with being a specialized doctor. But it does makes it harder to find the people that has a, I don´t want to say rare, but an illness that most doctors don´t encounter most times.

[@julesmpc1314]

My european family members fly to Brazil to get serious private treatment...its way much better

[@johnveerkamp1501]

MATS TO MATS FOR DOKTER IN THE U.S

[@janneolsson2353]

A Swedish doctor that calls football, the biggest sport in the world, soccer? I would never trust him.

[@Cloud_that_looks_like_a_cat]

44 seconds ago?

[@MI-007]

😱

[@cfvgd]

If i were a doctor i would move to the US in a blink of an eye

[@LeonardoRicardoSanto]

LET THE GUEST TALK....YOU TALK TOO MUCH.

[@Tobias-et1xt]

First

[@yourealittlebitfat4344]

European doctors are so much better!!!!!!!! I live in the Netherlands, i have an immense amount of pain for the last 2 years from my neck to the side of my skull, it feels like all my bones are getting thinner and thinner. So far it has cost me 6k euro's and im not 1 step further to get things solved because ''Me doctor me dont know what it is!'' So good wow.