From Oct. 2 to 10, Minister LaGrange will meet with national, regional and local health experts and officials across Sweden and Denmark, visiting word-class medical facilities, including Karolinska University Hospital and Zealand University Hospital. The mission will help identify practical approaches Alberta can learn from to improve the province’s health care system, helping Albertans get the care they need, when they need it.

Sweden and Denmark have publicly funded health care systems that spend comparable amounts per person to Canada while using different approaches for organizing and delivering care. By examining what is working in these systems, Alberta can identify proven approaches that could be adapted to Alberta’s health system to improve access, manage wait times and make better use of existing capacity.

“Albertans deserve a modern, responsive health care system that puts patients first. By examining how world-class systems in Sweden and Denmark successfully manage wait times and expanded access, we can adopt proven innovations to build a stronger, more sustainable health system here at home.”

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services

Mission expenses will be posted on the travel and expense disclosure page.

Itinerary for Minister LaGrange*

Oct. 2-3
  • Travel to Stockholm, Sweden.

Oct. 4
  • Briefings.

Oct. 5
  • Meet with health care officials.
  • Tour of local emergency clinic.

Oct. 6
  • Meet with eHealth, primary care and technology officials.

Oct. 7
  • Meet with national health system officials.
  • Tour of Karolinska University Hospital.
  • Travel to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Oct. 8
  • Meet with Emergency Health Services officials.
  • Tour of Zealand University Hospital.

Oct. 9
  • Meet with national health officials.

Oct. 10
  • Return to Alberta

*Subject to change.

Quick facts

  • Alberta’s dual practice model is based on best practices in other high-performing health systems, including Sweden and Denmark, which combine strong public funding with flexible delivery models.
  • According to a recent study, two per cent of Swedes report unmet medical needs due to wait times compared to nine per cent of Canadians.
  • More than 85 per cent of Swedish patients receive a medical assessment within three days when needed.
  • Danish physicians can treat both publicly funded and privately paying patients, with physicians working in both settings providing an average of 5.2 additional hours of care each week to private patients, according to research.