ABSTRACT
Healthcare in Norway has been seen as a public responsibility since the end of the Second World War. The overarching aim has been to ensure “equal access to healthcare of good quality.” Taxation and public sources account for almost all health expenditure. Healthcare delivery is semi-decentralized. Responsibility for specialist care lies with the state. The municipalities are responsible for primary care. Since the beginning of the millennium emphasis has been given to structural changes in delivery and organization, and to policies intended to empower patients and users. Quality and patient safety have, over the past few years, emerged on the health policy agenda, as well as efforts to improve coordination between healthcare providers. The chapter aims to describe how the Norwegian healthcare system has developed in relation to quality and patient safety issues.
