Access to medical care is regulated by the Health Care Act:

• Specialised medical care is only provided by a referral, except in urgent cases.

• The assessment of the need for care must start within three weeks of the referral receipt date.
• Any tests and specialist evaluations must be carried out within three months of the referral receipt date.
• If the examinations indicate that the patient needs hospital care, it must be provided within the following six months.
• In case of mental health services for children and adolescents under 23, tests and specialist evaluations must be carried out within six weeks of the referral receipt. Care and treatment must be provided within three months of the date when the need for treatment was determined.
• If the hospital is unable to provide the necessary care for the patient within the specified period of time, it must arrange for the patient to be treated in another hospital district or the private sector. No extra costs will be incurred by the patient as a result of this.