The boundary between the public and private health service

Financing of the patient injury scheme

The state, regional healthcare trusts, county councils and local authorities pay contributions to NPE to cover compensation for patient injuries in the public health and social care services.

The contributions also contribute to the operation of NPE and the Patient Injury Compensation Board (PSN). Enterprises that provide healthcare outside of the public health and social care services must pay contributions to NPE for any patient injuries that are sustained in the private health service.

What is considered public health service?

The state, regional healthcare trusts, hospital trusts, county councils and local authorities are part of the public health service. Healthcare provided at state education institutions is covered by the public health service.

Additionally, enterprises that have entered into agreements with the public sector concerning subsidies or purchase of healthcare services are also covered by the public health service.

The part of private enterprises' healthcare services financed by the public sector by way of subsidies or purchase of health and social care services is also considered part of the public health service.

Any additional operations on top of such agreements are considered private health services.

In special cases, treatment abroad will also be covered by the public health service.

Emergency assistance provided by healthcare personnel outside of the enterprise is also considered public healthcare.

Quicker return
Healthcare provided by private enterprises with an agreement with the public sector as part of the scheme to bring people on sick leave back to work more quickly is part of the public health service. This service will therefore not be subject to mandatory contributions.

Private treatment sites that have an agreement with Helfo concerning treatment in the event of unmet deadlines
Helfo has entered into agreements with certain private enterprises concerning the provision of healthcare in the event of unmet deadlines in the public health service. Such healthcare provided by private enterprises is part of the public health service. This service will therefore not be subject to mandatory contributions.

You can read more about the basis for what is considered part of the public health service under regulations.

Some examples of the boundaries between the public and private health service

Healthcare provided within the Student Union:
Healthcare provided to students and employees by healthcare personnel within the student union forms part of the public health service. This enterprise is financed via subsidies from the state.

Physiotherapists with partial subsidies
Parts of the enterprise that are covered by the subsidy agreement fall under the public health service. The part of the enterprise that falls outside the public health service must be registered and will be subject to mandatory contributions.

Placements abroad
The Patient Injury Act applies to Norway and does not cover healthcare personnel studying and undertaking placements abroad