About the Swedish National Institute of Public Health

The Swedish National Institute of Public Health is a state agency under the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The Institute works to promote health and prevent ill health and injury, especially for population groups most vulnerable to health risks.

The three main tasks of the Institute are:

• To monitor and coordinate the implementation of the national public health policy.
• To be a national expert agency for the development and dissemination of methods and strategies in the field of public health, based on scientific evidence.
• To exercise supervision in the areas of alcohol
  and tobacco.

Since most public health activities in Sweden take place at the local and regional level, the majority of the Institute’s work is directed toward staff, managers and decision makers within municipalities, counties, regions and other organisations. The Institute lends support, exerts influence and supervises in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention.

Located in Östersund, a city situated about 600 km northwest of Stockholm, the Institute has about 160 employees and is headed by Director General Sarah Wamala.