Cannot Pass Swedish Medical Training – Still Working as Doctors

Since the Swedish university entrance exam is too difficult, they instead turn abroad to get their education and can then work as doctors in Sweden. Here, many of them end up being reported as a danger to patients.

Between 2020 and 2025, around 1,700 Swedish citizens received a Swedish medical license after being educated in one of the EU countries in Eastern and Central Europe. This is made possible by an EU directive mandating that medical degrees be automatically approved.

Ekot’s investigation reveals that almost half of these individuals have taken the Swedish university entrance exam, and that most would not have qualified for a medical education in Sweden. Despite this, working as a doctor in Sweden is entirely possible for them.

Those who trained as doctors in countries such as Latvia, Romania, and Slovakia are considered to have significant skill deficiencies and may pose a danger to patients. Many are also reported to the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (Ivo) by their employers.

One who has repeatedly encountered this issue is Christer Rosenberg, general practitioner and former development manager in primary care in Västra Götaland.

“If you have a license, you should be able to do the job. They must know the basic things a doctor must know. Otherwise, it’s life-threatening,” he told state radio.

Cancer treatment delayed

Rosenberg does not want these individuals to work with patients who are fragile, seeking help, and in general completely vulnerable.

The complaints include things such as “cannot interpret x-rays and lab results,” not examining the correct part of the body, mishandling referrals so that cancer treatment is delayed, and colleagues questioning whether the individual has a medical degree at all.