What is specialist healthcare?
Specialist healthcare is the second level in the Norwegian health system – above the GP (primary healthcare). It includes hospitals, outpatient clinics, district psychiatric centres (DPS), and private specialists with agreements with the public sector.
Specialist healthcare covers, among other things:
- Surgery and somatic medicine
- Mental healthcare (DPS and hospital departments)
- Substance abuse treatment (TSB)
- Rehabilitation
- Specialized outpatient examinations (X-ray, blood tests, ECG etc.)
All specialist healthcare costs are covered by the state and are free for patients (apart from the patient fee up to the free care card limit).
How to get a referral
To access specialist healthcare you usually need a referral (a written request from a doctor). Who can write a referral?
- Your GP – the most common route
- Emergency doctor – for acute conditions
- Another specialist – can refer you to another specialist
- Midwife – can refer to a gynaecologist or delivery ward
- Chiropractor and manual therapist – can in some cases refer
How to do it:
- Book an appointment with your GP and tell them about your symptoms
- Ask for a referral if your GP does not suggest it themselves
- Your GP sends the referral digitally to the relevant hospital or specialist
- You receive a letter or a message in the Helsenorge app confirming that the referral has been received
Read more about healthcare services and the Helsenorge app in the article about the Helsenorge app.
Your rights: assessment and deadline
When specialist healthcare receives your referral, you have legal rights:
Right to assessment within 30 working days
Specialist healthcare must assess your referral within 30 working days and give you an answer about:
- Whether you are entitled to healthcare
- What treatment you will receive, if any
- A deadline (latest date) for treatment to start
NOTE: 30 working days means business days, not calendar days. In practice this is approximately 6 weeks.
Deadline for treatment start
If you are entitled to treatment, you will be given an individual deadline – a date by which treatment must start at the latest. The deadline is set based on your medical condition and urgency.
You can find the assessment and deadline in:
- The letter from the hospital
- The Helsenorge app under "Treatment plan" or "Messages"
The waiting time guarantee: what do you do if the deadline is missed?
If the treatment deadline has passed and you still have not received help, you have a right to treatment elsewhere – at the state's expense. This is called a waiting time breach.
How to use the waiting time guarantee:
- Contact HELFO (Norwegian Health Economics Administration) within 24 hours after the deadline has been missed
- Call HELFO on 800 43 573 (free number)
- HELFO finds an alternative offer – often at another hospital in Norway or abroad (EU/EEA)
- HELFO covers all costs, including travel and any time abroad
Important: It is your responsibility to contact HELFO quickly. Do not wait – get in touch as soon as the deadline has passed.
Free hospital choice
When you are referred for planned treatment, you have the right to free hospital choice. This means you can choose any Norwegian hospital – public or private with a public agreement – for your treatment.
How to use free hospital choice:
- Go to velgsykehus.no or call 800 41 004
- Compare hospitals on waiting times, quality indicators and patient satisfaction
- Choose the hospital you want and tell your GP or the hospital that referred you
Free hospital choice applies to planned treatment – not to emergency care.
Tip: A hospital in another city may have a shorter waiting time than your local hospital. Travel expenses for free hospital choice can be covered by the health authority.
Choose a hospital – compare and find the best offer
On velgsykehus.no you can:
- See waiting times for different treatments at all Norwegian hospitals
- Read quality indicators (complication rates, repeat surgeries etc.)
- See patient reviews
- Contact the hospital directly
The service is updated regularly and is available in Norwegian and English.
Interpreter and immigrant rights
As an immigrant, you have the same rights as all other patients. In addition:
Right to an interpreter: If you do not speak Norwegian well, you have the right to an interpreter at all hospital visits. The hospital is responsible for arranging an interpreter – you just need to say so when you book your appointment. It is free.
How to ask for an interpreter:
- Tell the hospital when you receive your appointment confirmation
- You can call the department and ask for an interpreter in advance
- Tell them what time and in what situation you need an interpreter
Confidentiality: All information about your health is subject to confidentiality. Information is not shared with the police, UDI or your employer.
Medical record copy: You have the right to a copy of your medical record. Ask for access to your record at the hospital or via the Helsenorge app.
Read more in the article about booking an appointment with a doctor.
Emergency and acute care – no referral needed
For acute conditions you do not need a referral. Go directly to:
- Emergency doctor (116 117): For injuries and illnesses that cannot wait until the next day
- Hospital emergency department: For serious injuries, heart attacks, strokes or other life-threatening conditions
- Emergency number 113: Life-threatening situation
Emergency treatment is free and available to everyone who is in Norway, regardless of insurance or residence permit.
Private specialists
You can also choose to see a private specialist (without a public agreement). If you do:
- You still need a referral from your GP
- You pay for the treatment yourself
- You may be able to apply for a refund from HELFO for part of the cost
Private specialists usually have shorter waiting times, but can be expensive.
Digital tools: find available capacity on helsenorge.no
You do not need to wait passively to be given an appointment with a specialist. Helsenorge.no offers "Choose treatment location" – a function where you can yourself search and find available capacity.
How to use the tool: Log in to helsenorge.no with BankID or MinID. Go to "Choose treatment location" or "Search available treatment times". Choose what type of treatment you need (for example, orthopaedics, cardiology). The system shows you which hospitals and private providers have available places near you or nationwide. You can filter by region, date, and treatment type.
The information shown: Start and end date for each treatment slot, name of institution, travel distance from your home. The doctor's name is not always shown, but the clinic name and treatment type are shown.
Important: If you choose a slot, your referral will be rerouted there – your GP and the health service will be informed. You cannot just "book" the time; the system links you directly to the location. Tell your GP or whoever referred you so they know where you are going.
Waiting time breach: If no hospital or provider has available capacity within the deadlines (for example, 12 weeks for outpatient assessment), you can offer yourself to a private provider – and the county authority should pay. The Helsenorge tool makes it easier to find alternatives before you take that step.
This gives you real control over your treatment choice – not just a waiting list.
