National Swedish Board of Health

The National Swedish Board of Health was the principal instrument of the State for governing, superintending and promoting the activities and the work of the institutions pertaining to this field.

[3] It was not until a letters patent on 27 January 1813, that the college was transformed into a true administrative authority under the name Sundhetskollegium (the Health Board).

Additionally, the senior physicians and professors who at the time held seats and votes in Collegium medicum were allowed to retain their positions for life.

According to an instruction issued on 6 December 1815, Sundhetskollegium was given oversight and administration over all matters concerning public health, medical care, and nursing, both for the general population and within the military forces on land and at sea, in both peacetime and wartime.

Among other duties, it was tasked with providing opinions in forensic medical cases, overseeing veterinary affairs, supervising the dental and barber surgeon professions, and managing variolation, among other responsibilities.

However, it was not until 1876 that the oversight of hospitals and mental health care (previously managed by the Serafimerorden's guild, Serafimerordensgillet) was transferred to Sundhetskollegium.

However, a proposal for the reorganization of the National Swedish Board of Health was under consideration, based on a report submitted by a special committee on 16 November 1909.

The National Swedish Board of Health was responsible for providing courts, public and municipal authorities, and officials with the information they required within its area of expertise, as well as investigating forensic medical matters.

Finally, the board had a special duty to monitor the management of epidemic disease control and to exercise supreme supervision over variolation in the country and the institutions established to promote it.