Table 1 Swedish milestones in domestic and global health

1947. Sweden becomes a party to the WHO’s constitution

1952. Central Committee for Swedish Technical Assistance to Less Developed Areas (CK) set up

1955. Alcohol monopoly Systembolaget founded

1955. Universal health insurance introduced in Sweden

1956. Introduction of compulsory sexuality education in schools

1958. Sweden is the first country to provide development assistance for family planning (to Ceylon)

1961. CK is disbanded and replaced with the Agency for International Assistance (NIB)

1962. First bill on international development, Government Bill 1962:100, is introduced

1965. Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) founded through a reorganisation of NIB.

1972. Gender equality is made a formal part of government policy

1974. Abortion legal at the woman’s request up to the 18th week. Abortion was made legal in limited circumstances in 1938.

1975. Sweden is the first country to meet the 0.7% aid target.

1975. Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries (SAREC) is founded.

1978. Uppsala Drug Monitoring Centre established

1985. The Conference of Experts on the Rational Use of Drugs in Nairobi is convened, pushed in part by Norway and Sweden.

1988. 4th International AIDS Conference held in Stockholm

1995. Re-organisation of Sweden’s international development work into Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)

1995. Sweden joins the EU.

2000. GAVI founded, Sweden is one of the six original donors.

2002. The Policy for Global Development sets out that all government decisions should take into account poverty and equity

2009. Sweden’s presidency of the Council of EU highlights AMR and the need for incentives to develop new antibiotics.

2014. Feminist Foreign Policy launched.

2015. Sustainable Development Goals adopted. The thematic consultation on health had been co-organised by the Government of Sweden.