Yesterday I had the opportunity to chair a symposium at NCGP2026 together with two of my favourite people in primary care: Anna Finnes and Magnus Röjvall. Both have spent many years working hands-on to build more sustainable systems in primary care.

The more we work with these issues, the clearer it becomes that organisation, work environment and quality of care are deeply intertwined. We cannot improve one without understanding how it affects the others.

That is why we need a systems perspective in everything we implement.
In the symposium, we discussed how LESS — Lägsta Effektiva Sjukskrivning — addresses exactly this intersection. The idea is to get more value from each effort by mobilising the full potential of the organisation that is already there.

The most unexpected moment? A conversation with a GP from Singapore who described strikingly similar challenges with overprescribing sickness certification.

At the same time, perhaps that should not surprise us. Across healthcare systems, professionals are constantly navigating expectations, uncertainty and demands. Learning how to meet those expectations actively, clearly and compassionately may be one of the most important skills we need in order to build sustainable care.

Thank you to everyone who joined the discussion!