Swedish Health Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson has shifted her stance on accepting patients from Gaza, now stating that the government does not rule out providing medical care in Sweden as a complement to local treatment.
Swedish Health Minister Reconsiders Accepting Patients from Gaza
Swedish Health Minister Reconsiders Accepting Patients from Gaza
Health Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD) previously stated that it was not feasible to bring patients from Gaza to Sweden. However, she has now changed her position, reports Läkartidningen.
The reason Ankarberg Johansson initially cited was the challenging staffing situation in Swedish healthcare. Now, the Health Minister says the government does not exclude the possibility of receiving patients from Gaza for treatment in Sweden, as a complement to care on-site.
"This applies to all places in the world currently experiencing significant humanitarian strains on the civilian population," writes Acko Ankarberg Johansson in a response to Green Party spokesperson Daniel Helldén, who recently inquired about the circumstances required for the government to reconsider its stance.
Ankarberg Johansson adds that the crucial factor now is to "ensure that people receive immediate help where they are."