A 250 year heritage
Founded in the 18th century as a small charitable hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital has evolved over more than two centuries into a comprehensive hospital network delivering both general healthcare and advanced, highly specialised services.
The hospital is named after Niclas Sahlgren (1701–1776), a Swedish merchant and philanthropist whose donation laid the foundation for Sahlgrenska Hospital in Gothenburg in 1772.
Combining a 250‑year legacy with continuous renewal and growing specialisation remains a defining strength of Sahlgrenska University Hospital. It continues to serve patients and advance care across generations, with the ambition to do so for many more to come.
Equitable and person-centred care
Sahlgrenksa University Hospital operates within Sweden’s publicly funded healthcare system, often referred to internationally as the Swedish healthcare model. It delivers care based on need rather than ability to pay, with the overarching ambition of serving all patients on equal terms and ensuring equitable access to high‑quality care.
Person‑centred care is a core principle at the hospital, guiding both the organisation and its clinicians. In practice, this means that care is organised around the individual patient, with a strong emphasis on participation and responsiveness to patients’ needs.
Full continuum of care and highly specialised services
What makes Sahlgrenska University Hospital truly special is its ability to provide the full continuum of care. Its core mission of delivering high-quality healthcare services is firmly integrated with an exceptionally broad range of specialist services spanning more than 35 clinical specialties, including cardiovascular care, reconstructive surgery, a full range of paediatric healthcare services, cancer care, rheumatology as well as psychiatric services.
The hospital also has multiple internationally recognised centres of excellence in cancer care, organ transplant, rare diseases, and other highly specialised fields.
World-class clinical research and innovation
According to the Swedish Research Council, Sahlgrenska University Hospital ranks as Sweden’s leading university hospital for clinical research. This position is reflected in the hospital’s strong scientific output, with approximately 3,300 peer‑reviewed publications per year.
Clinical innovation at Sahlgrenska University Hospital has led to medical advances with both national and international impact. A prominent example is the hospital’s pioneering work in uterus transplantation. Sahlgrenska University Hospital led the world’s first systematic clinical studies addressing absolute uterine infertility and, in 2014, achieved the world’s first birth following a uterus transplant.
A hub för clinical education and training
Sahlgrenska University Hospital hosts a large number of medical residents annually, offering a strong and structured training environment. At the national level, the hospital is ranked as Sweden’s leading university hospital for clinical research by the Swedish Research Council and was also ranked sixth in the Swedish Medical Association’s 2025 ranking of hospitals for junior doctor placements, making it the highest‑ranked university hospital in Sweden.
