The Health System

PurposeSwedish TermNotes
Swedish personal identity number (format: YYYYMMDD-XXXX).PersonnummerThe key to full access to Swedish healthcare. Required for booking via 1177.se and for the medicine benefit scheme (Läkemedelsförmånen). Without it, phone booking and walk-in are alternatives.
Sweden's healthcare is organised by 21 regions.RegionEach region manages its own healthcare system, so services vary by location.
primary care centre / GP surgery.VårdcentralYour local first point of call for non-urgent healthcare.
GP (general practitioner).Husläkare / FastläkareYour assigned primary care doctor.
referral.RemissRequired for some specialist appointments, but Venhälsan accepts direct self-referrals (egenremiss) — you do not need a GP to refer you there.
the national healthcare website (1177.se) and telephone advice line.1177Booking, advice, and health information. Requires BankID for full online functionality; phone line is open 24 hours.
Sweden's electronic identity system, used for 1177.se bookings and many other services.BankIDLinked to Personnummer; visitors without one must use phone booking.
the Communicable Diseases Act.SmittskyddslagenThe law that makes testing and treatment for HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, and other listed diseases completely free — no patient fee (patientavgift). This is arguably the most important piece of healthcare law for gay and bisexual men in Sweden.
"general hazardous disease" — the classification under Smittskyddslagen that triggers free care.Allmänfarlig sjukdomHIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, hepatitis, and others are classified this way.
patient fee (the standard co-pay for Swedish healthcare visits).PatientavgiftDoes not apply to care classified under Smittskyddslagen.
medicine benefit scheme.LäkemedelsförmånenCaps your annual prescription medication costs at approximately 2,900 SEK. PrEP counts toward this cap.
pharmacy / chemist.ApotekWhere you collect prescriptions.
emergency department / A&E.Akuten / Akutmottagning
infectious disease emergency department.InfektionsakutenWhere to go for PEP.
infectious disease outpatient clinic.InfektionsmottagningWhere PrEP is managed outside Stockholm.
sexual health clinic.Sesam mottagning / STI-mottagning

Sexual Health and Testing

PurposeSwedish TermNotes
HIV (Humant Immunbristvirus).HIVSame abbreviation as English.
in Swedish: STI or könssjukdom (literally "genital disease") or sexuellt överförbar infektion.STI / STD
Post-Expositionsprofylax (post-exposure prophylaxis).PEPFree under Smittskyddslagen.
Profylax mot HIV-smitta.PrEPCovered by Läkemedelsförmånen.
gonorrhoeaGonorré
chlamydiaKlamydia
syphilisSyfilis
hepatitisHepatit
testing / samplingProvtagning
resultSvar
prescriptionRecept

Swab Terms — Three-Site Testing

PurposeSwedish TermNotes
culture / sample (swab test)Odling / Prov
throat swab.Svalgutstrykning / Svalgprov / SvalgsekretFor gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the throat.
rectal swab.Rektalodling / Rektal provtagningFor gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the rectum. You may also hear analprov.
urethral swab.Uretraprov / UretralodlingFor gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the urethra.
urine sample.UrinprovNot sufficient on its own — will miss throat and rectal infections.

Key Phrases

PurposeSwedish Term
Do you speak English?Jag talar inte svenska bra — finns det någon som talar engelska?
Full STI screen — throat, rectal, and urethral swabsJag vill testa mig för STI, inklusive prov från svalg, ändtarm och urinrör.
Clinical context: I have unprotected anal and oral sex regularlyJag har oskyddat analsex och oralsex regelbundet.
Anonymous HIV testJag vill ha ett anonymt HIV-test.
I'm on PrEP — need my three-month monitoringJag tar PrEP och behöver min tremånaderskontroll.
I want to start PrEPJag vill börja med PrEP. Jag har förhöjd risk.
HIV exposure — I need PEPJag behöver PEP efter en HIV-riskexponering.
PEP — it was less than 72 hours agoDet var för mindre än 72 timmar sedan.
I have an EHIC cardJag har ett europeiskt sjukförsäkringskort (EHIC).
I need helpJag behöver hjälp!
Call an ambulanceRing ambulansen!

Emergency Numbers

NumberService
112Emergency services (ambulance, police, fire)
1177Healthcare advice line (24h)
08-616 37 20Venhälsan (Stockholm)
08-585 800 00Karolinska Huddinge Infektionsakuten (PEP)