Temporary legislative changes proposed to ensure readiness to receive large numbers of displaced Ukrainians

"I am confident that the professionals working in our health service, and in a situation involving a high number of arrivals from Ukraine, will be able to offer health and care services to the population of a sound quality," says Minister of Health and Care Services, Ingvild Kjerkol. 

Possible exemptions

In order to manage the very high number of displaced Ukrainian individuals, the Ministry of Health and Care Services is proposing temporary legal provisions that will enable the government in specific situations to apply exemptions to statutory requirements set out in the Patient and Service User Rights Act, the Specialist Health Services Act and the Health and Care Services Act.

The basic rights and duties relating to the health and care services will be safeguarded. No exemptions will be allowed from rights and duties pertaining to basic health and care services such as emergency care and necessary health and care services.

Furthermore, no exemptions will be made from the duty to provide sound health and care services, neither for health trusts, municipalities nor health personnel.

Will be repealed no later than 1 July 2023

The legislative proposal sets out a legal basis for the application, when necessary, of exemptions from rights and duties, including:

• Establishment of a time limit as to when, at the latest, patients are to receive necessary health care
• The right to information within 10 days as a response to a referral
• The right to a review
• The right to free choice of treatment
• The right to an individual plan
• The right to a contact physician
• The right to a coordinator
• The right to a children’s coordinator

Such exemptions may only be applied if this is necessary in order to accommodation adaptations or prioritisations that contribute to ensuring that the capacity of the health and care services is not exceeded. In principle, the health and care services will be able to satisfy the current legislative and regulatory requirements.

These legislative amendments are being proposed on a temporary basis and will be repealed no later than 1 July 2023.

українська версія (ПДФ)