Thursday, March 20, 2025
The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Breaking News
Ad:

https://nordictimes.com/environment/poorer-air-quality-in-finland-and-sweden/

Environment

Poorer air quality in Finland and Sweden

Published 28 February 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Share via

Air quality has deteriorated in some parts of Finland and Sweden in recent days. In Finland, the levels of microparticles are the highest measured in the last ten years.

Next year, the EU will introduce a limit of 50 micrograms of microparticles per cubic meter, which means that the public must be warned if this limit is exceeded. On Monday, a daily average of almost 40 micrograms of microparticles per cubic meter was measured in Finland.

In Sweden, there have been locally high levels in several parts of the country for most of February. Levels have been particularly high on Gotland, and on Wednesday as many as 997.4 microparticles per cubic meter were measured in Visby, according to preliminary figures from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. According to the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute’s (SMHI) air web, however, the levels have fallen during the night, but also showed unhealthy levels on Thursday morning. Gävle also showed high levels in the morning.

Measured pollution in Visby during the morning. Photo: facsimile/SMHIAccording to the Finnish state broadcaster Yle, the deterioration in air quality is due to the introduction of large amounts of microparticles into the air mass from Central and Eastern Europe. It is also reported that it may worsen in the coming days.

Pollution measured during the morning. Photo: facsimile/SMHI

Poor air quality affects people with conditions such as asthma and cardiovascular disease, as well as older people and children, but can also affect healthy people. For example, eyes, nose and throat can be irritated by microparticles in the air. According to Yle, you should stay indoors if you experience symptoms.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

TNT is truly independent!

We don’t have a billionaire owner, and our unique reader-funded model keeps us free from political or corporate influence. This means we can fearlessly report the facts and shine a light on the misdeeds of those in power.

Consider a donation to keep our independent journalism running…

Ad:

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-government-private-care-companies-sell-adhd-diagnoses/

Sweden

Swedish Government: Private care companies sell ADHD diagnoses

Published yesterday 7:23
– By Editorial Staff
Jakob Forssmed notes that the rapid increase in ADHD diagnoses shows no signs of slowing down.
Share via

More Swedish children than ever before are being diagnosed with ADHD, and the government believes that private care companies are largely to blame for the extreme increase.

– There is a structure here that in practice means that diagnoses are sold for payment, explains Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed (KD).

The government notes that long waiting times in health care have long been a major problem in Sweden – and especially in specialized psychiatric care.

This is said to have led to more and more people choosing to turn to privately funded providers instead – not least for the assessment, investigation and treatment of neuropsychiatric disabilities.

– Today, there are a large number of private providers offering ADHD assessments and medication alongside publicly funded care. We must ensure that people’s patient safety is not compromised by this and, in addition, also analyze how it affects other patients and the healthcare system as a whole, says Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed.

The Minister is highly critical of the way many private operators work and says that it often seems to be a case of healthcare companies charging patients for diagnoses.

– There are so many indications that these are set in such a way that one can suspect this and it is clear that then it has consequences for health care.

Want to get rid of “opportunists”

– You may not be able to trust these diagnoses when they are made in this way. Individuals do not receive support and help regarding a possible co-morbidity. It is not a person-centered care but a diagnosis-centered care, and it needs to be reviewed of course, he continues.

Forssmed also points out that private healthcare providers often market themselves by promising quick results, that the investigation can be carried out in whole or in part remotely on the internet, or that the patient will even get their money back if there is no diagnosis.

– We need to ensure that healthcare resources are used properly and that it is provided by serious actors and not by opportunists who mislead people into seeking answers in individual diagnoses.

The increase continues

It should be emphasized that the Moderate-led government is basically positive to private care companies – and does not want to ban them from conducting ADHD investigations.

However, it does want the Health and Social Care Inspectorate to carry out a special inspection of private care providers and the Agency for Health and Social Care Analysis to map and analyze the risks of certain privately funded care.

According to a forecast by the National Board of Health and Welfare, approximately 15% of boys in Sweden and almost 11% of girls will be diagnosed with ADHD in the future. Between 2019 and 2022 alone, the number of diagnoses among children and young people increased by as much as 50% – but no concrete reason for the increase has been established.

– We see no tendency for the increase to slow down, says the Minister for Social Affairs.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/rising-medicine-costs-for-swedes-government-blames-aging-population/

Sweden

Rising medicine costs for Swedes – government blames “aging population”

Welfare collapse

Published 17 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The Minister for Health, Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD), claims that the increase is necessary to meet the funding.
Share via

The Moderate-led government has announced that it will invest heavily in military rearmament in the coming years – and borrow billions to finance the project.

At the same time, Swedish welfare is being eroded, and this time the focus is on sick Swedes, as patients’ co-payments for prescription drugs are being sharply increased.

Although the fee has already been raised significantly in recent years, the center-right coalition now want to see another increase – this time of 30%.

This means that from this summer, anyone who regularly takes prescription medicines will have to pay SEK 3,800 (€345) for them annually – instead of the current SEK 2,900 (€260), before the high-cost protection begins to apply and the medicines become free of charge.

– It’s a big increase and a difficult situation, said Minister for Health Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD), during a press conference.

– It is necessary to increase the costs in the state budget for medicines to ensure that all patients have access to the treatments they need. But it also requires that patients’ co-payments need to be increased to ensure long-term financing, she said.

Referring to “demographic developments”

The government points out that medical advances mean that Swedes are living longer than before – but that this is by no means all positive, as it also means increased costs.

“The demographic development with an ageing population, the increase in chronic diseases and the increased possibilities for treatment have, however, led to a sharp increase in government expenditure on medicines included in the high-cost protection, and forecasts show that costs will continue to rise rapidly”, it says.

The decision is expected to hit sick and poor pensioners hardest and yesterday protests were also organized in Stockholm where hundreds of people marched under the slogan “Vi vill ha råd med vård” (We want to afford healthcare).

– It’s a pitiful increase from the government’s point of view, so drop it for the sake of pensioners, pleads Curre Hansson, PRO chairman in Stockholm.

– If the government can afford to cut taxes for high-income earners, it can afford to ensure that ordinary people can afford to get their medicine, argues Karin Rågsjö, spokesperson for the Swedish Left Party on healthcare issues.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-finance-minister-european-war-economy-is-a-positive-thing/

Sweden

Swedish finance minister: European war economy is a positive thing

The new cold war

Published 17 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Elisabeth Svantesson admits that “war economy” has a negative connotation - but that this time it is about something completely different.
Share via

EU leaders want Europe to arm itself militarily and to do so in a big way – additional defense spending of around €800 billion proposed .

Sweden’s Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) is one of many leaders who welcome the development, saying there are many advantages to “a modern European war economy”.

During the Moderate Party’s Sweden Days, the Finance Minister shared her thoughts on how to strengthen Sweden’s defense – and how to maintain or further expand support to Ukraine.

– I realize that what I’m about to say is going to sound a bit drastic, but I envision a European war economy, Svantesson explains.

She admits that for most people the word “war economy” has a very negative connotation and brings to mind ration cards and coffee surrogates – but this time, she claims, it means something completely different.

– This is not what I am after, the modern war economy actually rests on two parts. First, a strong and growing economy – because that is a precondition for a strong defense.

“Fewer communicators – more companies”

The second part, according to Svantesson, is about having “order and clarity” in public finances while being able to prioritize money for “defense and security”.

– Now we are reprioritizing. Aid has decreased, it is still very high, but we can strengthen Sweden’s security and safety. To be specific, it’s really about fewer communicators and more companies.

The Finance Minister emphasizes that Sweden is certainly no closer to a full-scale war today than it was yesterday, but says that it is instead a matter of preparing mentally and highlighting how important it is for Sweden to carry out a military rearmament.

Wants to borrow billions

– You should feel calm, we have economic muscle and a large unit in the Swedish parliament that creates stability, they say.

Despite the “financial muscle”, Svantesson confirms that the government will still need to borrow several billions to finance the initiative.

– We will need to borrow for a few years to quickly reach the levels needed.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/swedish-wages-lowest-in-the-nordic-region/

The Nordics

Swedish wages lowest in the Nordic region

Welfare collapse

Published 17 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Swedish wages in several occupations are increasingly lagging behind their Nordic neighbors
Share via

Swedish salaries for key occupational groups are the lowest in the Nordic region, according to figures from 2023. Denmark, Norway and Iceland top the salary league table with significantly more generous pay envelopes, while Finland is closest to Sweden and in some cases trumps Swedish salaries.

Sweden is increasingly lagging behind its Nordic neighbors when it comes to salaries for key professions such as caretakers, nurses and social workers.

Statistics show that Sweden, often in the company of Finland, has the lowest average salaries for these occupations, while Denmark and Norway top the list with significantly higher compensation.

The figures are based on data from 2023, the most up-to-date figures available, and are taken from national statistical offices such as Statistics Sweden, Statistics Norway, Statistics Finland, Statistics Denmark and Statistics Iceland, as well as trade unions in each country.

  • Property managers in Sweden earn the least in the Nordic region, while Denmark and Norway stand out with clearly higher salaries. Finland, however, is close to Sweden in terms of pay.
  • Nurses in Sweden are also at the bottom of the pay league with lower salaries than our Nordic neighbors. Denmark leads with the highest salary levels, while Finland is close to Swedish levels.
  • Social workers in Sweden show the same pattern and are the lowest paid in the Nordic region. Denmark and Norway offer significantly better pay conditions, while Finland is again hot on Sweden’s heels. Iceland also reaches higher levels than its Swedish colleagues.

It is important to note that wages can vary by region, sector and experience, which may in fact affect the ranges shown.

Purchasing power not included

Differences in wage levels can be linked to varying labor market policies, taxes and productivity in the Nordic countries. Sweden stands out as the country where the occupational groups above are rewarded the least in real terms.

This raises questions about future wage developments – not least with a view to the forthcoming collective bargaining round.

It is worth pointing out that the figures do not take into account purchasing power, which can ultimately affect how wages are perceived in everyday life depending on the cost of living. Exchange rates also affect the results.

The differences underline that Sweden is lagging behind in wage growth. Finland can be considered the closest competitor, but is still slightly ahead in a couple of cases. Denmark and Norway lead the way with the highest wages, highlighting a clear Nordic wage gap.

Sources:

Statistics Sweden (SCB), Sweden, 2023: https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/arbetsmarknad/loner-och-arbetskostnader/lonesok/

Statistics Norway, 2023: https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/11420/

Statistics Finland, 2023: https://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_palkat_en.html

Statistics Denmark, 2023: https://www.dst.dk/en/Statistik/emner/arbejdsmaerket/loen-og-indkomst/loenstatistik

Statistics Iceland, 2023: https://www.statice.is/statistics/society/wages-and-income/wages/

Trade unions such as Vårdförbundet (Sweden), Tehy (Finland), Norsk Sykepleierforbund (Norway), etc., 2023.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Average salaries in the Nordic countries - 2023 statistics (1€ = 11 SEK)

Property managers: Sweden is the lowest with 30,200-31,100 SEK/month, while Denmark and Norway reach 40,500-48,000 SEK and 40,000-45,000 SEK respectively. Finland (SEK 30 800-35 200) and Iceland (SEK 36 000-40 000).

Nurses: Sweden has 37,500 SEK/month, the lowest in the Nordic countries, while Denmark leads with 52,500-60,000 SEK, followed by Norway (50,000-55,000 SEK), Iceland (48,000-52,000 SEK) and Finland (38,500 SEK).

Social workers: Sweden is lowest at SEK 38,000/month, while Denmark reaches SEK 48,000-57,000, Norway SEK 45,000-50,000, Iceland SEK 40,000-44,000 and Finland SEK 35,200-39,600.

Share via

N

Polaris of Enlightenment

News

Other

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Follow TNT socials!

X-twitter Facebook Telegram Instagram

© 2022-2025 The Nordic Times TNT.
All rights reserved.

Our independent journalism needs your support!
We appreciate all of your donations to keep us alive and running.

Donate

Our independent journalism needs your support!
Consider a donation.

You can donate any amount of your choosing, one-time payment or even monthly.
We appreciate all of your donations to keep us alive and running.

Donate
Dont miss another article!

Sign up for our newsletter today!

Take part of uncensored news – free from industry interests and political correctness from the Polaris of Enlightenment – every week.

Send this to a friend