The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services (Helse- og omsorgsdepartementet) is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of health policy, public health, health care services and health legislation in Norway.
More specifically the Ministry of Health and Care Services has the superior responsibility for providing the population with adequate health care services, including health promotion, based upon the principle of equality and health care services independent of habitation and financial circumstances.
The Minister of Health and Care Services is the head of the Ministry, and its political leader. The position is currently being held by Bent Høie. The Norwegian Board of Health is a national government institution under the Ministry of Health and Care Services.
Subsidiaries
The ministry owns the four regional health authorities in Norway:
It also is supreme of the following government agencies: