If you've recently moved to Norway, the way healthcare works here can feel unfamiliar. Helsenorge.no is the public online portal where much of your interaction with the health service happens digitally – from changing your GP to renewing a prescription. This guide walks you through the essentials, step by step, so you can use the services with confidence here in Drammen.
First, how the Norwegian system fits together
In Norway, almost everyone is assigned a fastlege – a regular general practitioner (GP) who is your first point of contact for non-emergency health needs. The GP scheme (fastlegeordningen) is run by the municipality, and you have the right to a GP if you are registered as a resident in the National Population Register. Helsenorge.no is the national portal that ties the digital side of all this together. It has two parts: quality-assured information about health and your rights, and a set of digital services you unlock once you log in.
You'll find it at helsenorge.no/en, where much of the content is also available in English. The login and most services are free to use.
Step 1: Log in with BankID
To see your own health information you need an electronic ID at the highest security level. In practice that means BankID or BankID on mobile for adults. Lower-security IDs such as MinID do not give access to services containing health data, according to Helsenorge's own login guidance.
If you're new to Norway and don't yet have BankID, you usually obtain it through your Norwegian bank once you have a national identity number (fødselsnummer) or D-number and a bank account. Once you have it:
- Go to helsenorge.no and click "Log in" at the top right.
- Choose your login method – for most people that's BankID or BankID on mobile.
- Follow the standard BankID process with your ID number and code/app.
Step 2: Get to know your inbox and profile
Once logged in, two things are worth checking first. Your inbox is where you receive messages from the health service – such as appointment invitations – and where you reply to them. Under Profile and settings you decide how you want to be notified (app, SMS or email), and you can see which apps and tools you've allowed to exchange your health data.
A small but useful tip: turn on SMS or email notifications, so you don't miss an appointment invitation simply because you forgot to log in.
Step 3: The services people use most
Change your GP
The "Change GP" service lets you switch your regular GP for yourself – and for your own children under 16 for whom you have parental responsibility. The change takes effect from the first day of the following month, and you normally have the right to two changes per year. For the full process, see our step-by-step guide: Changing your GP in Drammen.
Renew a prescription
If your GP's office offers the "Renew a prescription" (Forny resept) service, you can request a repeat prescription for medicines, medical supplies and medical foods you've had before. There's an important limit: you can only renew prescriptions you've already been given. If you need something new, you must book an appointment. We deliberately don't name specific medicines here – that's a conversation for you and your doctor.
Contact the office and e-consultation
If your GP offers digital services, you can book an appointment, start an e-consultation (a written consultation) and contact the office directly through Helsenorge. An e-consultation suits simpler, non-urgent questions. To understand what suits a digital channel and what's better handled in person, read when a video consultation with your GP makes sense.
Test results, records and vaccinations
Under Patient records and Test results you can see results from hospitals. Note that tests ordered by your GP usually aren't shown here – you get those from the GP's office. Under Vaccinations you can check your vaccination status and print a vaccination card in Norwegian and English – handy before travelling. The Summary Care Record (kjernejournal) collects selected health data about you across the health service, so a doctor at an out-of-hours clinic can quickly see critical information.
You can use Helsenorge on behalf of your own children under 16 without power of attorney, as long as at least one parent is registered at the same address as the child in the National Population Register. To help an adult – for example an elderly parent – a separate power of attorney is required.
Step 4: Download the app
Many people find the Helsenorge app easier for day-to-day use. It has the same services as the website, and you log in the same way with BankID. The app sends notifications straight to your phone when something happens – such as a new appointment invitation or a message from the office.
When Helsenorge isn't the right channel
Helsenorge is a great tool for planned, non-urgent matters. It is not a channel for immediate help. In a life-threatening emergency, always call 113. If you need medical help that can't wait until the GP office opens, call the out-of-hours service (legevakt) on 116 117. Messages on Helsenorge are read during office hours – don't use them for urgent matters.
Welcome to Hotvet legesenter
Hotvet legesenter is open at Rosenkrantzgata 75, in the centre of Drammen. With us as your GP office, you can book appointments, renew prescriptions and start e-consultations through Helsenorge.
Get in touch