The newly appointed Swedish Health Minister, Elisabet Lann, collapsed on Tuesday during a press conference marking the start of the 2025–2026 parliamentary year.
Lann, a municipal councillor from Gothenburg and a member of the Christian Democratic Congress, had only been announced as Health Minister earlier in the day, following the sudden resignation of her predecessor, Acko Ankarberg Johansson.
Witnesses reported that the minister collapsed while standing alongside Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and other top officials, hitting her head on the lectern in the process. Security personnel and party leader Ebba Busch quickly intervened, providing immediate assistance before she was escorted out of the room.
Lann later returned, reassuring reporters that her collapse was due to a blood sugar drop, adding: “This was not exactly a normal Tuesday, and this is what can happen when you have a blood sugar drop.”
Although she appeared uninjured, the event was abruptly cancelled. Speaking afterward, Lann stressed that while Sweden’s healthcare system remains of high quality, urgent reforms are needed to address long waiting times and equitable healthcare access.
Her unexpected collapse has sparked widespread attention across Sweden and internationally, raising discussions about healthcare, political leadership, and ministerial wellbeing.
