Estrogen Medication Shortages Emerge as Key Election Issue in Sweden

In the lead-up to the 2026 elections, the ongoing shortage of estrogen medications in Sweden has become a pressing health and political issue. The campaign led by Alexandra – för Kvinnor & Hälsa, including the Östrogenmarschen initiative, has spotlighted the critical need for improved access to hormone treatments for women experiencing menopause and related health challenges.

Over the spring and summer, nearly 29,000 signatures were collected on a petition advocating for change, which representatives from the organization, including Alexandra Charles and Professor Helena Kopp Kallner, presented to Social Minister Jakob Forssmed. The campaign has made four key demands: establishing secure, long-term access to prescribed hormone medications; developing a pharmaceutical policy to prevent future shortages; increasing political focus on women's health needs; and ensuring equitable treatment access regardless of economic background.

Alexandra Charles, chair of Alexandra – för Kvinnor & Hälsa, emphasized the severe personal and societal consequences of the medication shortages. She stated that women dependent on estrogen treatments often have to stay home from work due to unavailability, which impacts both their lives and the broader community. The issue also exposes significant disparities in menopause and women's health care provisions across Sweden. Helena Kopp Kallner highlighted the urgent need for a national initiative to strengthen primary care competencies and improve specialist care resources for women's health.

Social Minister Jakob Forssmed acknowledged government efforts to address the medication access issues and assured ongoing monitoring of the situation. Despite these reassurances, advocates continue to call for robust, concrete political commitments to improve women's health care ahead of the elections.

The campaign aims to maintain pressure on policymakers, ensuring the availability of hormone medications and heightened attention to women's health become enduring priorities in Swedish health policy.