Health expenditure per inhabitant in this country increases every single year. In 2022, health expenditure per person was around NOK 83,000 on average, new figures from Statistics Norway show. In 1997, this figure was approximately NOK 21,000. Expenditure has thus more than quadrupled since the end of the 90s. Clinic manager at Ålesund Hospital, Elisabeth Siebke, says that we now have completely different medical options than before and can help people we previously could not treat. Then she particularly highlights cancer care, a number of infectious diseases from which one previously died, follow-up of newborns and not least within the surgical field. – Today we can operate with the help of new robots or kikhòl methods that were not possible a few years ago, says Siebke. Health minister not worried In addition to health expenditure per inhabitant increasing, the state also takes a larger part of the bill for the people. Health and care minister Ingvild Kjerkol thinks it is natural that health expenditure increases as the years go by because we are constantly using new methods and treating more and more people. – If you have fallen ill, you must receive the best medical expertise available. It is a solidarity way of providing health services which I think is very right. Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap). Photo: Christian Breidlid / Christian Breidlid The Minister of Health is more worried about the lack of professionals than the increase in expenditure. – The fact that there are more people leaving working life than entering is what will be the challenge I have to solve, says Kjerkhol. – The only person missing who frequently uses the health services in this country is Luffen Valle. Today he is being checked at Ålesund Hospital. – I have a black belt in being a patient, with countless operations, he says and laughs. Luffen Valle says he greatly appreciates the Norwegian healthcare system, but adds that sometimes it can take some time before you get help. Photo: Tore Ellingseter / news He is not shocked that the health expenditure per resident is over NOK 83,000. – It should just be missing. We live in Norway. We are a wandering people. We are a mountain people, he says and refers to the fact that because of that one can get injuries, especially in the knees. He himself has been a gymnast, and received a lot of treatment for, among other things, wear and tear on his knees and arms. – When you first come in the doors, you get help. And the quicker you get treatment, the quicker you get out, says Valle. Elisabeth Siebke, clinic manager at Ålesund Hospital, emphasizes that there are many more treatment options now than before. Photo: Tore Ellingseter / news And the head of the clinic at the hospital is ready in his case. – We are lucky in Norway to have these opportunities. We have a decentralized health service, with fairly specialized health services everywhere, and we must be willing to pay for that.
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head of clinic at Ålesund hospital says we can treat several ailments – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
