Sweden Rejets to Take in Gaza Injuries

The Swedish government has declined a European Commission request to accept patients and injured individuals from Gaza, despite having the medical facilities to accommodate them.

The decision contrasts with other European countries, such as Norway, which agreed to accept 20 patients from Gaza.

On May 15, Sweden, along with other EU member states, received a letter from the European Commission seeking assistance with medical evacuations from Gaza. Despite the request, the Swedish government opted not to participate.

The Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm and the company "Alleris" both indicated their capacity to handle additional patients from Gaza.

Alleris, in particular, noted that they had available space and could immediately accommodate more patients without affecting the care of current patients, including those from Ukraine.

Health Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson argued that the cost of accepting a small number of patients would be excessively high.

She emphasized that Sweden prefers to allocate its resources to provide broader humanitarian aid.

Alleris had previously communicated its willingness to accept Gaza patients in a letter sent to Minister Johansson at the end of May.

However, a response received on July 19 stated that the Swedish government was continuously reviewing requests and assessing how to best offer support, including the possibility of accepting patients.

In an interview with DN, Minister Johansson highlighted that Sweden is one of the largest contributors of humanitarian aid to Gaza, having provided an additional 520 million kronor in assistance since October 7, 2023. This aid includes food, healthcare, emergency maternity care, and neonatal care.

When asked about the decision to reject the request despite available capacity, the minister explained that the high costs of accommodating a few patients led Sweden to prioritize its resources for more extensive humanitarian assistance.

She also noted the complexities involved in executing medical evacuations from Gaza and suggested that sending medical expertise and equipment to neighboring areas could be a more effective response.