The Norwegian Directorate of Health, Helsedirektoratet, is the country’s competent authority, responsible for technical functions as well as certain administrative roles, coordinates and monitors the services for rare disease patients in Norway. 

There are 16 different state-financed centres for rare diseases established for in Norway. 12 of these are national competence services. To date, such services have been established for about 320 diseases, resulting in (in 2010) about 16,000 registered users at the  centres. The centres contribute to the process of enabling patients to access the same work, educational and social opportunities as all Norwegians. The centres take up the needs for various forms of support unmet by standard services available. The centres also facilitate the development and dissemination of expertise.

Revised regulation on accreditation/approval of hospitals and national services incl Centres of Expertise for rare disorders is in effect from 01.01.2011: http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/HOD/SHA/forskrift-eng-270911.pdf

The guide for this regulation in Norwegian only: http://www.regjeringen.no/pages/36565840/Veileder_nasjonale_tjenester.pdf

For an overview of the centres, see http://www.helsedirektoratet.no/helse-og-omsorgstjenester/sjeldne-tilstander/kompetansesentre/Sider/default.aspx