Cuts and growth in bureaucracy bringing Danish health service to its knees, alleges senior doctor

Something has to be done before Denmark once again can boast about having the world’s best healthcare system

A new book published by Liselotte Højgaard, a professor and chief surgeon at Rigshospital, contains a warning that the Danish health system itself is heading towards intensive care.

‘How do we get the world’s best health service?’ points a warning finger at politicians and health administrators.

“The system is so weakened by cuts that I feel I have to speak out,” she told Politiken.

“It’s the first time in my 35 years as a researcher and doctor that I’m doing this, so it’s not because I’m a moaner or whinger. But it’s serious now. We’ve crossed a red line and I can’t keep silent any longer.”

Many causes
Højgaards blames a combination of factors for causing the present malaise, including cuts leading to longer waiting lists, a lack of equipment that is often old and slow, and poor organisation.

“This year, in my department alone, we have to save 2.5 million kroner. We are also expected to carry out a lot more tasks than before, but for more or less the same amount of money. It just doesn’t add up.”

One bone of contention is the increase in the number of non-medical personnel. Figures for 2007-2016 reveal that 1,800 more office personnel have been employed, corresponding to a 27 percent increase in numbers. At the same time, the qualified medical staff have had to greatly increase their work-rate.

“There’s no doubt that the massive savings have led to an over-bureaucratisation. You have to be very much in control if you are steering a much poorer system and, at the same time, have enough time for the millions of patients we treat every year.”

Registration difficulties
One of the areas Højgaard points to is the controversial patient registration system, Sundhedsplatformen, which has attracted criticism from health personnel because it takes much longer to input data than the old system did. Here, she says, Denmark should look to the Netherlands.

“The Dutch bought the full version of Sundhedsplatformen, which has inbuilt speech recognition. So instead of the doctor writing everything in, it appears directly on the screen when you speak and you can then simply correct it. It is much quicker.”

It could be worse
Højgaard still has reason to be optimistic, though.

“We’ve got some fantastically clever students, doctors, researchers and other health personnel. We don’t have to do all that much before we get back on the right track once again. But the building blocks that we have need to be put together another way,” she asserted.

“I’d like to emphasise that the individual shouldn’t be afraid of going to hospital. The contact between patients and surgeons or pregnant mothers and midwives – in other words, the core areas of the health system – are working fine seen from a professional point of view.”




  • The international who shaped Copenhagen

    The international who shaped Copenhagen

    Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

  • Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    According to a report by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, internationals’ contribution is 12% of the country’s GDP. In 2023, it was 322 billion DKK, and in 2008, it was 136 billion DKK. “Internationals make a gigantic difference in our prosperity and welfare,” comments Morten Langager, the Director of Dansk Erhverv.

  • Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    With half of its staff being international, the BioInnovation Institute reflects Denmark’s broader transformation into a global innovation hub. But can the country—and Europe—keep up the pace? “If reforms are made now, we can close the gap in ten years,” explains BII’s CEO

  • Denmark launches massive investment in the navy

    Denmark launches massive investment in the navy

    Two months ago, the Danish PM announced that military equipment should be purchased in a hurry. The first plans for the sea are now ready. Additional plans for warships will follow this summer.

  • International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

    International designers struggle to find jobs in Denmark

    Many internationals come to Denmark to work as designers, but the field appears to be one of the hardest to break into. The Copenhagen Post spoke with two internationals struggling to find their way into the industry.

  • Free to speak, free to expose: how corruption shapes media freedom

    Free to speak, free to expose: how corruption shapes media freedom

    In Denmark, journalism feels free — calm, almost unbothered, and independent. In Azerbaijan, it can cost journalists their freedom, as in the case of Avaz Zeynalli, editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Xural, who is currently imprisoned on politically motivated charges

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.