Copyright © 2008 av Helgelandssykehuset HF 2008
|Helgelandssykehuset HF, 8607 Mo i Rana. Tlf. sentralbord: 75 12 51 00 E-post: postmottak@helgelandssykehuset.no
Ansvarlig: Informasjonssjef Randi Erlandsen. Webredaktør Elisabeth Solum
General information about Norway:
Key facts.
Culture, living conditions.
Specific requirements when moving til Norway.
How to find a job in Norway.
Information about Helgeland and specifically Mo i Rana (Rana), Mosjøen (Vefsn) and Sandnessjøen (Alstahaug):
Key figures.
Location.
Access.
Schools and kindergartens.
Main "industries".
Leisure.
Specific information about Helgelandssykehuset and the process in order til be able to work in Norwegian hospitals:
Organisation.
Key facts concerning the hospitals.
Working conditions at the hospitals.
Specific requirements in order to work as a doctor.
Help that can be provided when moving.
Internet adresses for complementary information.
1. General information about Norway
- Geography: Norway is a country that lies in an area of about 385 000 square kilometres with more or less than 20 000 km of coast made with numerous fjords and an extended variety of scenery. Since approximately 4,6 millions persons -including just about 330 000 foreigners - live here, in vast areas, the number of inhabitants per kilometre is fairly low (12) and provide liberty in order to realise many outdoors activities.
- The territory is divided in 5 regions, 19 counties and 434 Municipalities.
- Norway shares borders with Sweden and Finland as well as with Russia.
- Capital city: Oslo counts just over half million inhabitants (520 000 in 2003).
- Major other cities: Going from south to north one will find: Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø. All of them are located on the coast where the climate is more temperate.
- Notice: You will need to remember that, because of the small number of inhabitants that live in this generous country, there are not many big cities to be found here.
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Language: Bokmål and Nynorsk are the official languages but you may encounter numerous other dialects along your journey.
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Notice: Municipal authorities may offer free Norwegian language tuition for those who have obtained a job in the country.
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Unemployment in the country was of 3,9% in 2002.
The climate shows large variations throughout the years and the seasons as well as between the various parts of the country. (Differences may go from more or less than 30 to +30 degrees Celsius between winter and summer, inland and coastal parts, North and South Norway)
On the west coast the average annual temperature is approximately of 8 degrees Celsius. However, distinct climatic differences may be found amid coastal and inlands regions of the country as the latter will not benefit from the Gulf Stream.
Here, you may also encounter about 3 000mm of rain that would fall in more or less than 200 days. In addition, whereas January and February are often the colder months, July (inland) -or the following months (on the coast)- proves usually to be the warmest.
Notice: In the northern part of the country you may be able to see the Midnight Sun during summer time as well as the Northern Lights in winter.
Political System: Even if the Norwegian constitution has been adopted on May 17th, 1814 it is beneficial to remember that the country has reached independence only 100 years ago (on June 7th, 1905).
Norway is actually organised as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democratic system of governance. As part of it, elections of the Storting (Norwegian assembly) happens every 4 years. The procedure follows a system of proportional representation. After that, the Government is then selected, on behalf of the King, within the Assembly.
As for what concerns the departments and municipalities, the members of their councils are also elected, following the equivalent system of proportional representation, for an identical duration.
National Holidays:
New Year: 1st of January
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Labour Day: 1st of May
National Day: 17th of May
Ascension Day
Whit Monday
Christmas Day: 25th of December
Boxing Day: 26th of December
Taxes:
7,8% for National Insurance Scheme
Municipal tax = 28% of net income
Top tax = 12 to 15,5% of gross income
Notice: During the first 4 years of your stay in Norway you will be able to deduce 15% of your income before paying the tax as long as you are not buying any residence during this period of time.
All of the above taxes are directly taken out of your salary so, you will only need to fill in a form once a year in order to make sure that what you have already paid represents what should have paid and neither more nor less.
Notice: Agreements between numerous countries stop you to double pay taxes in your homeland as well as in Norway. In that concern you will need to go to inform your tax centre of your new situation before coming in Norway.
In addition, MVA (25% of net price) has to be paid on most goods.
Notice: it represents, 11% for the food.
Insurance system: The National Insurance Scheme covers all residents in Norway. It is a compulsory system for employees (which are then covered from their 1st day of work) and, simultaneously, spouses and children under 18 will benefit of limited entitlements. The latter may be enlarged by the subscription of voluntary membership. (National Insurance Act from February 28th, 1997).
On the subject of the compulsory membership, the employer, the State as well as the employee pay for the contributions and the necessary funds are directly taken out of the worker’s salary along with the other required taxes.
As a member of the National Insurance Scheme you will be entitled to: medical benefits during sickness and maternity as well as daily cash benefits, rehabilitation allowance, old age pension, unemployment benefits.
Notice: Daily cash benefits appears, after at least 4 weeks work, for a period up to 260 days in case of sickness, 10 days in a for sick child and 210 or 260 days during a maternity leave.
Health care system: As said previously, the National Insurance Scheme offers medical benefits during sickness.
However, you may have to pay a share of the cost of consultations, treatments, X-rays (from 200 NOK per act) up to a fixed annual amount (more or less than 1500 NOK).
Conversely, an inpatient will not need to pay for any of the treatments received during his stay at the hospital.
Notice: The dental care (for adults) is mostly realised by private dentists and not included in the National Insurance Scheme. Therefore, the treatments provided there are entirely paid by the patient.
In addition, the municipalities are responsible for the promotion of health and the prevention of illness as well as for medical rehabilitation, nursing along with the diagnosis and treatments for illness and infirmity.
Notice: Here, you will also need to choose a referral doctor that will act as a gatekeeper toward specialist care and hospitals.
The secondary health care is mostly procured in public hospitals but, additionally, you may also find a few private practices across the country (most of them are to be found in the southern part of the country).
Notice: The hospital has a phone duty” toward the organisation of the primary health care and the GPs consultations.
School system: In Norway childrens education starts at 6.
It is divided between: primary school (class 1 to 7), secondary school (class 8 to 10) -both compulsory- and upper secondary school (lasting 3 years). The latter is followed on a statutory basis it may provide general theoretical education, vocational training as well as partial qualifications.
Notice: The schooling is usually paid for by the State (up to 18 years old).
Children aged 0 to 6 may attend to public and/or private kindergartens.
Notice: If you are arriving for the holidays you may be aware to it could be difficult to find summer and/or winter camp for your children.
Food and beverages:
Norwegian breakfasts are frequently made either of bread with cheese, ham, jam or of cereals as well as of hard-boiled eggs.
Lunchtime appears usually between 11 to 12 am and is habitually composed of bread with topping or salad.
Diner would then be served around 4 pm (after the day at work and school) and should be warm. It is often composed of meat or fish dishes along with boiled potatoes but may differ from one place to another.
Finally, at the end of the day you may come across to a late snack made of ice cream, cookies, tea.
In addition, one should say that coffee has a very favourable place in most Norwegians day.
Notice: Each hospital has a Cantina where you may find bread, cake, salad as well as warm lunch.
The electrical system in the country is distributed in 220 V.
Specific requirements when moving to Norway:
Most of the following are simple formalities for everyone with an employment offer. It could then be done upon arrival in the country. However, as a Doctor, you will also need to ask for a Norwegian authorisation in order to work here. Information on that subject can be found in the last part of this document.
A residence permit: When moving from a country that possesses an EEA-agreement you may stay in Norway up to 3 months (sometime even 6), without any residence permit, while searching for a job or starting to work.
However, before the ending of this period, you will need to apply at your local police station.
In order to do so you should go there with your passport, 2 ID photos, proof of your employment and your medical license along with an application form. The latter may either be downloaded on the following address: www.udi.no or directly issued at one of the police station in Norway.
Notice: The citizens from one of the new EU member States will need to ask for a residence permit with entitlement to take employment.
A personal registration number will be provided, upon request, by the National registry (Folkeregisteret). This number is very important. Indeed, it will be required in order to open a bank account, obtain your tax deduction card.
As the process may take around 3 weeks before the delivery of your personal number you should therefore ask for it as soon as you have found a job in the country.
The tax card:
Application forms may be found on Internet: www.skatteetaten.no.
If you are a citizen of an EEA-country or of Switzerland you will need to join a copy of your passport.
If you are from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech republic, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Hungary you will also be asked for your residence permit.
Driving license: If you are moving from one of the EEA-country you may either use your own driver license or ask for a Norwegian one.
Conversely, persons moving from a country located outside of the EEA will be able to exchange their license for a Norwegian after a practical driving test.
Notice: you may use your foreign driver license for not more than one year after your date of registration as a resident in Norway.
Customs will normally apply for alcohol, tobacco and car in particular.
More specifically on the regard of the importation of your personal car, the customs will hand you a form to fill in that you will need to report of to the local authorities in Helgeland.
Customs taxes will then be calculated on the basis of information such as: the vehicles weight, cylinder volume, minus the number of years during which your car has already been in use.
Notice: If you are staying under one year special rules may apply so that you won't have to pay this tax. You will also, usually, be able to keep your plates. This situation may sometimes be extended for one more year.
If you are bringing your dog and/or cat with you it is important to know that they will need a passport in order to enter the country. You should therefore ask your veterinarian prior of your departure.
Notice: This rule applies for every EEA-country except Sweden.
In addition they should have been vaccinated against rabies.
To open a bank account you will be required to present your personal registration number (you may then not be able to do it right away as it could take something like 3 weeks in order to have the number delivered).
Even if you are able to keep a bank account in your home country you need to be aware that salaries are usually paid on Norwegian bank accounts. In any cases, you will normally be able to transfer money from one account to the other (with the help of SWIFT in particular).
Besides, you may want to take contact with your previous bank in order to know if they have special relation with any of the Norwegian bank companies.
Notice: Usage of a credit card is very common in Norway and such method of payment is often prefered instead of paying cash.
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The knowledge of Norwegian language is usually required in order to find a work in Norway. However, English may be sufficient for certain activities.
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Public institutions such as the “Directorate of Labour” (www.aetat.no) in Norway, or www.europa.eu.int/eures from your homeland, could help you in during your search.
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You may also look in the various newspapers.
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Or send speculative application after having found addresses of the companies you are interested in on Internet: www.gulesider.no
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On www.nokut.no you may apply for the recognition of your education.
Notice: there is no need to do so in order to obtain the required authorisation in order to work as health personel. See below for further information on these specific requirements.
2. Information about Helgeland and more specifically Mo i Rana (Rana), Mosjøen (Vefsn) and Sandnessjøen (Alstahaug)
Helgeland is a “department” of more or less than 18 000 square kilometres that counts something like 78 400 inhabitants living in 18 Municipalities. Below are some details concerning the 3 major cities in the area. It is there that you will find the hospitals that make up the Helgelandssykehuset HF (or trust).
Mo i Rana (Rana) Mosjøen (Vefsn) Sandnessjøen (Alstahaug) 4 463 km2 1 894 km2 215 km2 Inhabitants 5 3 10 Distances from: 975 km
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Size of Municipality
- in the city
- in the Municipality
17 300
25 300
9 600
13 500
7 400
5 800
Number of Municipalities
- Oslo
- Trondheim
- Bodø
- Mo i Rana
- Mosjøen
480 km
240 km
890 km
390 km
324 km
87 km
955 km
470km
123 km
98 km
70 km
Helgeland is part of the county of Nordland (the southern county of North-Norway). It lies in the middle of the country and may be considered as the “gate to North Norway”. As for the whole state, Helgeland can be considered as a safe area that will, in addition, keep you far from the stress of big cities.
Notice: Starting in Mosjøen, about 2 driving hours will separate you from Sweden.
Here you will encounter a diversity of environments such as numerous islands, high mountains in which lies many lakes and waterfalls, rivers…
Mosjøen and Mo i Rana are located inland, but fjords are stretching all the way up to there. However, Sandnessjøen rests on the coast and is surrounded by islands.
By plane: Each of the 3 cities possesses an airport with daily departures and arrivals, both from the south and the north of the country.
By car: The main European road of Norway (E6) goes through Mosjøen as well as Mo i Rana. From Mosjøen it will take you just over 1 hour to drive down the fjord in order to attain Sandnessjøen.
Notice: It takes around 14 hours to drive from Oslo to Mosjøen. Yet, one need to know that the weather and the environment may lead to longer driving time when one encounters snow and ice in winter.
In addition, you need to know that the speed limit in Norway is established around 80 km per hour.
By train: Both, Mo i Rana and Mosjøen, possess a train station with connections from and to the North (Bodø) as well as with the South. It takes just over 12 hours in order to cover the distance between Mosjøen and Oslo (one more hour is needed to Mo i Rana).
Notice: A connection will have to be made in Trondheim.
By boat: A stop of the “Hurtigruten” (costal boat) is made in Sandnessjøen (1 boat per day from and to the south and north)
Schools and kindergartens (education): Every city has several municipal –and private- kindergartens (from 0 to 6 year old) as well as schools, both from class 1 to 7 and 8 to 10.
Kindergartens are usually open from 7 am to 4.30 pm and their prices may vary depending on the number of hours and days during which you child is staying there.
If one of your children needed to attend universities courses you would find them in Trondheim as well as in Bodø.
Main “industries”: aluminium, textile and timber industries are present in Mosjøen. In addition, Mo i Rana is the largest industrial area of North Norway.
Leisure: The region presents numerous of possibilities in order to spend your (as well as your children) free time.
Among them you will find the opportunities of: skiing (although the winter season lasts usually from January to April, it is often possible to ski in Norway between December and June), bowling, fishing, canoeing, biking, hiking, playing football or volleyball… You may also use the swimming pools, golf, library, movie theatre, museum, etc…
The current motto of Helgelandssykehuset is:
“Pasientfokus og Samhandling”
It means that there is a strong wish, from the board, to implement a unique culture in the whole organisation. Therefore, the 3 hospitals should share their resources and try working together in order to improve the results of their actions, both for the society (the patients in particular) as well as for the organisation itself.
Organisation: Helgelandssykehuset consists of 3 local hospitals (which can be found in Mo i Rana, Mosjøen and Sandnessjøen). They run equally for in- and outpatients. In addition, some day care units are also under its responsibility -for psychiatry treatments in particular- in other municipalities of the region (Brønnøysund for example).
Since 2002, the hospitals are organised in a trust that may be considered as “centralised-decentralised” with their main office in Mo i Rana. The “Health Enterprise” (Helgelandssykehuset) is stately owned and placed under the responsibility of a Regional Board -Helse Nord- located in Bodø.
Key facts concerning the hospitals:
| f |
Mo i Rana |
Mosjøen |
Sandnessjøen |
| Beds | 81 somatic | 36 somatic 21 psychiatry* |
80 somatic |
| Inpatients Outpatiens somatic Outpatiens psykiatric |
5 500 |
3 190 |
|
* In the psychiatric division 15 beds are for adults whereas 6 belong to children.
Each hospital processes a department for psychiatric outpatients. In addition, the department in Mosjøen has a unit for family therapy and neuropsychology.
The 3 hospitals work in collaboration with the regional and university hospitals in the country: Bodø, Trondheim and Tromsø in particular.
Notice: Each hospital possesses a video studio in order to improve the communication between them and with other professionals.
Working conditions at the hospital:
Working hours are 38 hours per week for doctors that work on night and day shifts. However, doctors working only daytime need to work 40 weekly hours at the hospital.
Furthermore, whereas every doctor has to follow a fixed duty planning (established for approximately 8 weeks), they may also negotiate extra duties on a voluntary, individual basis.
Compensations: they are based on agreements passed with the “Norske Legeforening” (the Norwegian association of physicians) and include holiday’s payments.
Notice: Payday at Helgelandssykehuset is on the 12th of every month.
Usually, contracts will include a trial period of 6 months.
Vacation time: 25 days - 5 weeks - are granted each year to every employee of the hospitals.
Notice: 60 years old and more are entitled to one more week of holidays.
Sick leave: every employee at the hospital may use a self-declaration form in order to report up to 24 days of illness per year.
Notice: 10 days are also granted in case of sick child.
The official retirement age in Norway is established between 67 to 70 years old for all employees.
Nevertheless, special agreements can be made on an individual basis if you wish to work after the above-stated age.
However, the authorisation to exercise as a Doctor will expire when the holder turns 75.
Continuous education: Every 5 years each consultant working at Helgelandssykehuset is entitled to a 4 months paid study leave in order to upgrade his skills.
Notice: The Working Environment Act may be found on Internet under the following address: www.arbeidstilsynet.no/regelverk/lover/pdf/7529.pdf
Specific requirements in order to work as a doctor:
Health education from EEA-countries is habitually automatically recognised in Norway. (In other cases the situation will be looked upon on an individual basis and the process could take some more time.)
In spite of this, every health personnel in Norway need to apply for an authorisation delivered by SAFH (“Statens Autorisasjonskontor For Helsepersonell”).
In order to obtain this authorisation you will need to join copies of the following documents along with your application:
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Passport
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Certificates of proficiency / professional license / certificates of apprenticeship related to your main education qualification
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Diploma and certificates from the refresher courses and further education that you should have received if your main education has been completed more than 3 years ago
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A resume containing your work experience along with the testimonials and the confirmation of the duration of your present employment
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Doctors from a country member of the EEC should also send a “Letter of Good Standing” issued by the authorities of your country and the copy of your authorisation to practice (if this system is used in your homeland).
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For the other countries, a description of your curriculum along with the courses contents -obtained from your educational institution- should accompany the form.
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Finally, you will be asked to join a letter that should stipulate the date at which your employment in Norway has been approved and/or is expected to commence.
The forms, along with further guidelines regarding the process of application, may be found on the web pages www.safh.no.
Address: P.O. Box 8053 Dep
NO – 0031 OSLO, Norway
Tel: (+47) 21 52 97 00 (Opening hours: 8 am to 3 pm)
E-Mail: postmottak@safh.stat.no
Notice: You should be aware that the duration of the process takes several weeks.
Specialists will also need to obtain the recognition of their qualifications. In order to do so you may send an application to the “Norske Legeforening” (Norwegian association of physicians).
Address: Postboks 1152 Sentrum
0107 OSLO, Norway
Tel: (+47) 23 10 90 10 (Opening hours: 8 am to 4 pm)
Internet: www.legeforningen.no (in Norwegian only)
E-Mail: legeforeningen@legeforeningen.no
Language training: Being a Doctor it is important that you understand the patients and vice-versa so, as a foreigner one of your first tasks when arriving in Norway will be to learn the language. In order to attain this goal you will have the possibility to follow courses (with your spouses) upon starting at the hospital. During the first months half of your working hours may be used in order to achieve this education.
Health certificate: Tuberculosis, MRSA-Test and Thorax X-Rays.
Insurances: Helgelandssykehuset provides liability insurance for all its employers.
Help that can be provided when moving:
Accommodations: The hospital will provide you assistance in order to obtain a house or flat as close as possible of what you wish for. If the place cannot be found among the one owned by the hospital help will be provided to you in order to apply on the local house market.
Relocation costs could be financed by the hospital. (You will then have to consult 3 moving companies in order to choose the least expensive offer.)
However, if you were to stay here less than 2 years the hospital will ask you to reimburse them.
Kindergarten: If you need a place for children between 0 and 6, you will be able to find a private kindergarten close from each of the 3 hospitals. In addition, we may be able to help you in the process of finding places there.
Internet addresses for complementary information:
www.arbeidstilsynet.no/regelverk/lover/pdf/7529.pdf