The Department of Hospital Ownership

Ministry of Health and Care Services

The Ministry of Health and Care Services manages the ownership of the regional health authorities and the Norwegian Health Network (Norsk helsenett SF) and the Department’s principal task is to safeguard the governance thereof.

The state ownership of the specialist healthcare services is divided into four regional health authorities (RHA). Under the four regional health authorities are hospitals and other specialist healthcare services, organised as separate health trusts (HT).

The four regional health authorities safeguard both the ownership of their subordinary group of health trusts and a responsibility to ensure that the population in the region is offered specialist healthcare services. The health trusts are independent legal entities with boards of directors at the regional and local levels. The Norwegian Health Network (Norsk helsenett SF) safeguards Norwegian interests relating to the operation and development of secure ICT infrastructure throughout the healthcare sector.

Through the active use of ownership instruments, the Department of Hospital Ownership is tasked with ensuring a strategic and operational management of the four regional health authorities and Norwegian Health Network (Norsk helsenett SF).

Among other things, the Department is responsible for preparing meetings of the health authorities and for the follow-up of governance requirements that are communicated via the meetings. The Department has a special responsibility for organisational and financial governance requirements and framework conditions.

The department consists of the following sections

  • Section for Organisation and Governance

    The Section’s tasks relate to the preparation of the Government Minister’s governance of the four regional health authorities and the Norwegian Health Network (Norsk helsenett SF), as well as the follow-up of governance requirements.

  • Section for Financial Governance

    The Section’s tasks relate to the preparation of the Government Minister’s governance of the four regional health authorities, as well as the follow-up of governance requirements, with an emphasis on financial affairs and investments.