The European Committee of Social Rights has formally declared that Sweden has committed several breaches of the European Social Charter regarding its healthcare policies for vulnerable EU citizens. The ruling follows reports highlighting significant disparities in how these individuals are treated within the Swedish medical system.
A total of 129 individual cases were documented and brought forward by Amnesty International and Doctors of the World. These cases detailed instances where vulnerable EU citizens were denied the same level of care afforded to others in Sweden. The committee emphasized that the Swedish state and its regional authorities—which hold direct responsibility for local healthcare delivery—must ensure that all EU residents can effectively access necessary services, irrespective of their residence status or ethnic background.
According to the committee’s findings, vulnerable EU citizens have faced worse treatment compared to individuals living in the country without legal papers. Furthermore, the committee noted that Sweden has applied different pricing structures for care, which further hindered access for this group. Because a majority of those impacted identify as Roma, the committee concluded that Sweden has also engaged in indirect discrimination based on ethnicity.
