Today’s news / Municipalities & Doctors: Treat Patients Closer to Home
Today, it is the regions that are responsible for the local health services, which are provided by, among others, general practitioners. (Archive photo). Photo: Henning Bagger/Ritzau Scanpix

Municipalities & Doctors: Treat Patients Closer to Home

Local Government Denmark (KL) and The Danish Organization of General Practitioners (PLO) suggest an overhaul of the Danish healthcare system to treat most patients closer to their homes. They propose reducing hospital treatments to only the severely ill and complex cases, and sharing ten recommendations for reorganizing healthcare to ensure early intervention and better nationwide doctor coverage. This includes stronger collaboration between local doctors and elderly care, as well as assigning dedicated doctors to nursing homes. Sisse Marie Welling, head of KL’s health committee, argues against the centralization of healthcare. Meanwhile, PLO’s chairman, Jørgen Skadborg, criticizes regional authorities for being too hospital-focused and suggests a national authority to set mandatory standards for local healthcare. The recommendations will be submitted to the Health Structure Commission for considering the future of Denmark’s healthcare system.