The introduction of MR in the Nordic countries with special reference to Norway: central control versus local...

The introduction of MR technology in Norway differed from that in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. In the latter countries, decisions were made at county or local level while in Norway the process was steered by the government and the national health authorities. For several reasons the steering was not very successful, and the intention of buying one MR unit ended with the purchase of five units. As a counter-reaction, for seven years only university hospitals were allowed to purchase MR equipment. In 1993, the strict regulations were abolished, and during the succeeding years all four Nordic countries experienced similar exponential growth in the number of MR units.