This article is a supporting resource for an Evening Exchange with Hans Erik Henriksen, which was held on Wednesday 7 August 2024. Watch the recordings here.  

This article emphasises the structure, financing mechanisms, patient rights, digital health integration, chronic disease management, mental health services, preventive health measures, and commitment to research and innovation that underscores Denmark’s leadership in global healthcare.

Denmark’s Healthcare System At a Glance

Three Levels of Healthcare Administration: 

Denmark’s healthcare system operates across three levels of administration: state, regions, and municipalities. Each level has distinct responsibilities in delivering healthcare and elderly care services.

• State: Sets national healthcare policies, regulations, and overall funding frameworks and ensures uniformity and quality standards across regions and municipalities.
• Regions: Denmark has five areas, each governed by a regional council elected every four years. Regions manage public hospitals, general practitioners (GPs), psychiatric care, and specialised medical services. They receive funding primarily through a block grant from the central government, which comprises approximately 75% of their total budget. This funding model aims to equalise healthcare access and service standards across regions, accounting for demographic and social variations.
• Municipalities: Denmark’s 98 municipalities are responsible for primary healthcare services and elderly care. They deliver a wide range of services, including disease prevention, rehabilitation outside hospitals, home nursing, school health services, and nursing homes. Municipalities finance these services through a combination of central government grants, local taxes, and an activity-based subsidy paid to regions based on healthcare service utilisation by municipal residents. This decentralised approach allows municipalities to tailor healthcare services to local needs and demographics.

Healthcare Financing:

Denmark’s healthcare system is predominantly publicly financed, with approximately 84% of healthcare expenditures funded through general taxes. In 2014, total healthcare expenditures amounted to 10.6% of GDP, with public health expenditures alone constituting 8.9% of GDP. This substantial public funding ensures universal access to healthcare services for all residents, primarily free of charge or with minimal co-payments.

Patients’ Rights:

Denmark guarantees all residents access to the public healthcare system, where patients have the right to timely treatment and diagnosis within specified time limits. Patients can choose any public hospital for treatment and, in some cases, select private hospitals if treatment cannot commence within 30 days in the public system. The Danish Patient Compensation Association manages compensation claims for injuries caused by hospital treatment or authorised healthcare professionals, ensuring patient safety and accountability in healthcare delivery.

Annual Agreements and Productivity Targets:

The Danish healthcare system operates under annual financial agreements negotiated between the government, regional councils, and municipal associations. These agreements set fixed levels of public expenditure and productivity targets, aiming to enhance the efficiency and quality of healthcare services. Regions are required to achieve an annual productivity increase of 2%; failure to meet these targets can impact the subsequent year’s budget allocation. The agreements are integral to Denmark’s national budget law, ensuring fiscal responsibility and governance of healthcare spending over four years.

Telemedicine and Digital Health:

Denmark leads in digital health integration with a highly digitised healthcare system. All general practitioners maintain electronic health records (EHRs), and 98% of healthcare providers exchange patient records electronically. Electronic prescribing of medications is near-universal (99%), streamlining access to pharmaceuticals and patient safety. Telemedicine initiatives like TeleCare Nord and telemedical wound assessment enable remote patient monitoring, reduce hospital admissions, and enhance patient management efficiency.

Chronic Disease Management:

The Danish government allocates significant resources to manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and arthritis. Initiatives include funding specialised treatments, patient education programs, and integrated care pathways to improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients with chronic conditions.

Mental Health and Elderly Care:

Denmark prioritises comprehensive mental health services and elderly care. Nursing homes and dementia care facilities offer round-the-clock professional support, addressing the needs of an ageing population. Integrated treatment approaches for mental illness and substance abuse are coordinated between regions and municipalities, ensuring holistic care and support for vulnerable populations.

Preventive Health and Patient Safety:

Denmark emphasises preventive health measures through school health examinations, child nursing, and free dental care for children under 18. The country’s adverse event reporting system encourages confidential reporting of healthcare incidents to improve patient safety and quality of care. National surveys, including the National Survey of Patient Experience and surveys among elderly populations, monitor healthcare service quality and patient satisfaction, providing data for continuous improvement initiatives.

Research and Innovation:

Denmark’s healthcare system is at the forefront of personalised medicine and genomic research. The National Strategy for Personalised Medicine leverages advanced technologies and genetic data to tailor healthcare treatments to individual patient needs. Substantial investments in research infrastructure support biobanks, genome sequencing technologies, and collaborative research initiatives with industry and academic partners.

As the system evolves, Denmark remains dedicated to providing equitable, efficient, and patient-centered care. To dive deeper into this exemplary healthcare system, register now for an Evening Exchange with Hans Erik Henriksen and explore the intricacies and innovations that make Denmark a global leader in healthcare.