Sweden becomes first country to offer prescription-based health travel

Sweden has become the first country where a patient can be prescribed a trip as part of a health-care plan, a destination-prescription program designed to complement conventional treatment. The initiative centers on three intervention themes—nature, culture and social prescribing—and draws on research reviewed by Yvonne Forsell, a senior professor at Karolinska Institutet, one of Sweden's leading medical universities. Patients worldwide can download a medical referral from Visit Sweden to support an application to their GP, who can issue a prescription advising time in Sweden. A roster of doctors has been identified who are ready to issue such prescriptions when appropriate.

Under the Swedish Prescription, patients visit Sweden to engage in activities such as picking cloudberries in the forest to lower blood pressure or visiting a sauna in Swedish Lapland to improve sleep. GPs can generate a prescription and advise patients to spend time in Sweden, with related expenses paid by the patient. The program is described as a complementary or alternative approach to conventional treatment, rather than a replacement for standard medical care. The arrangement aims to make non-drug, lifestyle-oriented interventions more accessible to patients who may benefit from time in restorative settings rather than medication alone. A global YouGov survey found that 67 percent of medical professionals in the United Kingdom would recommend Sweden as a destination to improve health, illustrating growing interest among clinicians in nature- and culture-based health strategies.

The program’s backers argue it reflects a broader shift in health care toward integrating environmental and social factors into medical decision-making. By validating activities like forest immersion, berry-pathering or communal sauna sessions as legitimate health supports, proponents contend that doctors can extend care beyond traditional settings and medications. The initiative also spotlights a collaborative model in which travel and activity providers, researchers and clinicians align to support patient outcomes in a controlled, evidence-informed way. Forsell, whose work at Karolinska Institutet informs the program’s design, emphasizes that the health benefits of nature, culture and social connection have been reviewed and incorporated into the prescription framework to guide appropriate patient selection and monitoring.

Dr. Sam Everington, a London-based physician who has been a vocal advocate for social prescribing, welcomed the Swedish approach. He said nature, social settings and culture have restorative powers, and Sweden’s assets are well suited to these aims. "Though many patients seem not to know that they can initiate this discussion with their doctors, as a physician, I would welcome discussing with my patients how Swedish nature and lifestyle could benefit their health — and am open to prescribing a visit to the country if my patients request it." He added that progress in making social prescribing a more integral part of public health in the United Kingdom has been meaningful but incomplete, and he hopes Sweden’s model could help reduce barriers and broaden access to such treatments.

Experts caution that the Swedish Prescription is in its early stages and should be seen as a supplement to, not a replacement for, necessary medical care. The program’s founders stress that eligibility, clinical judgment and patient preferences will guide prescriptions, and that doctors will need to carefully monitor any prescribed trip for safety, feasibility and alignment with overall treatment goals. Critics have raised questions about the practicalities of funding, equity and ensuring that health benefits justify travel costs. Proponents counter that, when implemented with clear criteria and robust follow-up, destination-based interventions could contribute to preventive care by promoting healthier behaviors, reducing stress-related symptoms and supporting sleep and cardiovascular health across diverse patient groups.

Beyond individual patient care, the Swedish Prescription initiative reflects a broader policy conversation about how health systems recognize and reimburse non-pharmacological strategies. If the model proves scalable, it could encourage new partnerships among clinics, travel and wellness operators, and public health bodies, while spurring additional research into which populations benefit most from nature- and culture-based therapies. Health officials acknowledge the need for ongoing evaluation, including metrics related to blood pressure, sleep quality, mood and functional well-being, to determine the program’s long-term value and potential cost implications. The initiative also underscores discussions about how doctors communicate options for wellness that involve time away from usual routines and environments, and how patients can access these options equitably through primary care networks.

Patients interested in the Swedish Prescription program should expect to engage through Visit Sweden’s referral system, with their GP reviewing medical history, current treatments and risk factors before endorsing a trip. Once prescribed, travelers would arrange their own travel and associated activities, with the understanding that costs are the patient’s responsibility. While the program emphasizes restorative experiences and non-drug therapies, observers note that it requires careful patient selection and clear boundaries to ensure it complements, rather than competes with, essential medical care. As health systems experiment with broader adoption of social prescribing and nature-based approaches, the Swedish model offers a real-world example of destination-based care aimed at supporting holistic well-being while maintaining clinical safeguards and patient autonomy.