EmailHospital Circular 23/2004
Date Issued: 4 August 2004
Distribution: Public Hospitals, Extended Care Centres, Metropolitan Health Services, and Regional Offices
Subject: Reciprocal Health Care Agreement - with the Kingdom of Norway
1. Recipricol Health Care Agreement
1.1 The Kingdom of Norway
This Circular is to advise that the requirements necessary to give effect to a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Norway have been fulfilled and, under the terms of the Agreement, the commencement date was Monday 1 March 2004.
The Agreement will give visitors access to the public health system of the host country for medically necessary treatment during their visit. It is similar to Australia's other health treaties in that it covers public hospital, medical and pharmaceutical care. Public hospitals should arrange for all relevant staff (eg Admission Officers, Medical Records Administrators, and Finance Officers) to be made aware of the eligibility of visitors from the Kingdom of Norway for public health services under the Agreement.
Access to public health care in Australia for visitors under the Agreement is restricted to a person who is ordinarily resident in the Kingdom of Norway and is temporarily in Australia. A current Norway passport will usually be sufficient proof of eligibility for a visitor from Kingdom of Norway to receive public health care.
1.2 Denmark, Belgium and Slovenia
Negotiations between the Commonwealth and these governments are progressing and it is expected that residents of these countries will become eligible in the near future.
Shane Solomon
Executive Director
Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services
