Our mission
Our duty is to examine which medicines, medical devices and dental care treatments will be subsidised by society. We also contribute to quality service and accessibility of pharmacies.
In addition to examining new medicines, we also work systematically to evaluate the medicines included in the high-cost threshold according to the older system in order to determine whether their reimbursement should be maintained or restricted.
On the pharmacy market our remit is to create the conditions for quality service and accessibility at pharmacies. We do this partly through the generic substitution system, the retail margin for pharmacies and by monitoring the pharmacy market.
Furthermore. we decide how much a medicine or a medical device in the high-cost threshold should cost. And, we determine what margin pharmacies should use when selling products, meaning the difference between the wholesale and retail prices.
We determine the pricing for new dosage forms, strengths and packaging and examine whether they should be included in the high-cost threshold.
Medicines for individual patients
We also determine whether licensed medicinal products and extemporaneous medicines (preparations that are tailormade for a certain patient) will be included in the high-cost threshold. Licensed medicinal products are medicines which can be sold in Sweden to certain patients although they have not been approved by the Swedish Medical Products Agency.
We determine the price for medicinal gases prescribed to individual patients within the high-cost threshold, such as oxygen.
Effective January 1, 2009 we determine which dental care procedures will be subsidised and set reference prices, i.e. the prices on which reimbursement is calculated.
Published 29 oktober 2010
Changed 23 februari 2012
Our background
The TLV was previously known as the LFN. The LFN was established in 2002 and was responsible for taking decisions on what prescription-only pharmaceutical products and medical devices would be subsidized.
In July 2008, a new dental care reform went into effect; a new law whose aim is to make it less expensive to go to the dentist, especially for those who are in the greatest need of dental care.
As the new Dental Care Benefits Board was established, on Sept 1, 2008 the name of the LFN was changed to the TLV, the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency to better reflect the remit.