As Sweden rolls out a new national agreement aimed at regulating the hiring of temporary healthcare staff, regions across the country are bracing for potential adverse effects on their healthcare services.

Internal risk assessments revealed concerns over closed health centers, increased patient risks, and deteriorating working conditions for permanent staff due to reduced temporary staffing.

The agreement, which seeks to standardize pay and qualifications for temporary healthcare workers, has already resulted in longer travel times for pregnant women to maternity wards and raised fears of longer wait times and complications due to delayed care.

Some regions predict difficulty in summer recruitment, with potential closures of maternity wards and reduced operational hours for emergency services.

This move has sparked debate and concerns over the future accessibility and quality of healthcare services in Sweden.