The development of health services in Norway has been in a continual process of development and maturation. Both society and health services are always undergoing change in a dynamic and interactive process. Society and health services mutually influence each other, and analysis and understanding of this process are important so that services can be as relevant as possible. Lessons from the past tell us that health care services have to be made to match requirements as well as capacities of the society they are to serve. The provision of health services is an important part of the responsibility of a modern society.
Health services are only to a limited degree commodities suited for the whims of an open market.
The responsibility of society towards its individual members is a basic value, administered among others by health care services. Seen in this light, health services may contribute to strengthening the feeling of solidarity and mutual responsibility, in a world where institutions and relations in society often are fragmented by strong forces. Today's Norwegian health services are still largely public, flexible, very competent and with high accessibility. Priorities are set against a continually improving basis of competence, and in dialogue with local politicians. The physician's role has changed.