A unique type of insurance
Sweden has a unique type of insurance for people who experience adverse effects from pharmaceutical treatment. The Swedish Pharmaceutical Insurance (Läkemedelsförsäkringen) covers anyone who has been prescribed medicines or purchased medicines from a licensed retailer in Sweden.
It also applies to patients who receive medicines in hospital, or who experience adverse reactions or side effects due to participating in a clinical trial that is covered by the insurance. Applying for compensation is free of charge. The quickest and simplest way to seek compensation for a medication-related injury is to submit your case to the Swedish Pharmaceutical Insurer. Taking the matter to court is also an option, but the burden of proof is typically higher.
How do I report a drug-related injury?
There is a special form for submitting a claim to the Pharmaceutical Insurer, a Claim Form, which is available here. It is important that you submit the claim personally. A counsellor, welfare officer, patient representative or patients’ ombudsman can help you complete the form. The claim form should be submitted directly to the insurance company, Svenska Läkemedelsförsäkringen AB.
When you have duly signed and submitted your claim, you are also consenting to give the insurance company the Power-of-Attorney to request medical records and medical certificates from hospitals in order to assess and evaluate your entitlement to compensation.
After completing the form, please send it to:
Svenska Läkemedelsförsäkringen AB
Box 176 08
S-118 92 Stockholm
Information in other languages
Det finns kortfattad information om Läkemedelsförsäkringen och blanketten för skadeanmälan på de vanligaste minoritetsspråken. Det kan vara praktiskt för den som inte fullt behärskar det svenska språket. Tanken är också att vårdpersonal, som hjälper patienter till rätta när de behöver anlita försäkringen, kan ha hjälp av information på patientens eget språk. En svensk översättning finns även på sidan.
Processing of your case
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Extraction of journals from healthcare services.
Once we have received the authorization, the claims adjuster sends a request (supported by your authorization) to receive journals from the healthcare service provider to be able to investigate the claim. The amount of time this takes depends on how quickly we receive all the necessary journals from the healthcare provider. Time required is approximately four to eight weeks.
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Summary
Once all journals have been received, the claims adjuster compiles your case and sends it to a relevant specialist medical adviser for your case. Time required is approximately one week.
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Assessment and opinion
The medical adviser assesses your case in accordance with the conditions of the insurance and then sends his/her opinion back to us. The amount of time required for this depends on how complicated the case is, amongst other things, but it usually takes an average of up to six weeks.
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Managers make decisions
Your claims adjuster will make a decision on your case based on the opinion provided. The decision means either that damages can be compensated from the insurance, or that compensation cannot be paid. If compensation cannot be paid you also receive information about what you can do if you are not satisfied with the decision. The decision is always sent to you as a letter. On average, it takes just over four months from registration until you receive a decision.
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Processing of your claim
With the help of the statement, your supervisor then makes a decision on the matter. The decision either means that the damage can be replaced by the insurance or that compensation can not be given. If compensation can not be left, you also get information about what you can do if you are not satisfied with the decision.
