The European Committee of Social Rights has officially declared that Sweden is in violation of the European Social Charter regarding its approach to providing medical services to vulnerable citizens from other European Union nations. The ruling stems from a series of grievances submitted by Amnesty International and Doctors of the World, who highlighted 129 specific instances where EU residents faced denials of equitable care within the Swedish health system.
According to the committee, the Swedish state and its regional authorities—who hold direct responsibility for healthcare administration—must ensure that care is accessible to all EU residents, regardless of their residence status or ethnic background. The committee’s investigation suggests that the current systemic approach fails to meet these obligations.
Findings from the committee indicate that vulnerable EU citizens are currently receiving a lower standard of treatment compared to individuals residing in the country without formal documentation. Furthermore, the committee noted that Sweden has applied inconsistent pricing structures for healthcare services provided to these groups. Because the majority of those impacted by these policies identify as Roma, the committee has concluded that Sweden is effectively engaging in indirect discrimination based on ethnicity.
