About the Public Health Agency of Sweden
The Public Health Agency of Sweden is an independent public authority under the Swedish Government. We work to ensure good public health and to ensure that the population is protected against communicable diseases and other health threats.
The mission of the Public Health Agency of Sweden is to develop and support society's work to promote health, prevent illness and protect against various forms of health threats. Through our work we contribute to a sustainable society.
Important partners are other governmental agencies, regions and municipalities, as well as a range of international organisations. The Public Health Agency also disseminates scientifically based knowledge to promote health and to prevent disease and injury. We offer a knowledge base and methodological support and monitor the health status of the population.
Overall responsibility for the country's communicable disease control
The Public Health Agency has the overall national responsibility for protecting the population against communicable diseases and coordinates communicable disease control on a national level. We develop regulations, recommendations and guidance for healthcare professionals to ensure effective communicable disease control. Some of the agency's responsibilities include vaccination programmes, emergency preparedness for health threats and national stockpiles of communicable disease medications. In addition, we coordinate national efforts concerning antibiotic resistance, infection control and healthcare-associated infections. Another field of work is our work to prevent HIV and STIs (sexually transmitted infections), where the agency is also responsible for national coordination.
Communicable Disease Control and Preparedness
Microbiological laboratory analysis, preparedness and outbreak support
The Public Health Agency performs microbiological laboratory analysis, including diagnostics, and supports quality and method development at laboratories engaged in diagnostics of communicable disease pathogens. Our high containment laboratories have round-the-clock preparedness every day of the year to conduct microbiological diagnostics of high-consequence infectious agents that pose a particular danger to human health. One important task is to provide expert support to investigations of suspected or confirmed outbreaks of communicable diseases and to maintain laboratory preparedness needed for effective communicable disease control in the country. We also provide operational support to the regions and municipalities during outbreaks.
Microbiology, Diagnostics and Biorisk management
Collection and analysis of data
An important basis for all public health work is collecting and analysing data from different sources. This is why the Public Health Agency of Sweden monitors the health status continuously to ensure the early detection of changes in the population. The work includes receiving reports of communicable diseases and monitoring the occurrence of diseases in general. Within the scope of our mission, we also develop effective systems to monitor public health and the factors that affect the health of the population. Another important task is to monitor the impact of the vaccination programme.
Health promotion in mental health, lifestyle and the physical environment
The Agency compiles, analyses and disseminates knowledge to support health promotion and preventive health work, in areas such as mental health, sexual health and lifestyle. We are also the national coordinating agency for suicide prevention. Our mission in environmental health is to detect, prevent and eliminate health hazards in the physical environment and to promote positive environmental impacts on human health.
Living Conditions and Lifestyle
Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
The agency is responsible for coordinated monitoring within alcohol, narcotics, doping and tobacco and compiles, analyses and disseminates knowledge in order to prevent related illness. The agency also has corresponding responsibility for gambling. Our mission also includes overall supervision under the Alcohol and Tobacco Acts. In addition, the agency is responsible for establishing the basis for the classification of drugs and hazardous goods.
Alcohol, narcotics, doping, tobacco and nicotine products, and gambling
International cooperation
The Public Health Agency of Sweden is actively engaged in public health work within organisations including the EU and the WHO. We are also a national focal point for these organisations, in areas such as the protection and management of international health threats. Through cooperation with other stakeholders, the agency also contributes to the implementation of Sweden's policy for global development.