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HEALTH

Can foreigners in Denmark access free health care?

People who move to or reside in Denmark have the right to access the country’s public health system, while different rules apply to those in the country on a more temporary basis.

Published: 12 April 2022 15:57 CEST
Hillerød hospital near Copenhagen
Hillerød sygehus

All persons who are registered as resident in Denmark and have been issued with a personal registration number are entitled to all public health services.

The rights to public health services are stated on the yellow health card itself, which is issued by the municipality in which you reside.

Denmark’s health services included under the public health system provide you with a family doctor or GP as well as free specialist consultations and treatments under the national health system, should you be referred for these.

You can also receive subsidies for medicine and medical services including some dental treatment, physiotherapy, chiropractor treatment and psychological consultations.

It should be noted that, as previously reported by The Local, foreign nationals can experience extended waiting times on residence applications in Denmark. Since they may not have automatic access to the public health system during this time, some decide to take out private health insurance to cover the waiting period.

READ ALSO: Applying for residency in Denmark: Why you might need health insurance during processing period

In some cases, you can also use Denmark’s public health system if you are not a permanent or temporary resident of the country.

This includes people who work in Denmark but live in another EU or EEA country (the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, who may be entitled to a special health card which provides access to the health system on the same footing as residents.

The card can be issued to persons who do not live in Denmark but are “socially insured” in the country due to one of a number of reasons, including:

  • Working in Denmark while resident in another EU, EEA country or Switzerland
  • Employed by a Danish company and stationed to work in another EU, EEA country or Switzerland
  • Receiving early retirement pay (efterløn) from the Danish state
  • Are employed on an EU contract and have selected Danish social insurance
  • Work on a ship which sails under the Danish flag
  • Are a family member of someone in one of the above categories and are not covered by the public health system in your home country.

It’s also possible to apply for and be granted the special health card if you are staying in Denmark without a personal registration (CPR) number, in some cases. These can include:

  • EU, EEA or Swiss nationals who work for Nato, the WHO or another international organisation in Denmark
  • People who work at EU, EEA or Swiss embassies or consulates in Denmark
  • Non- EU, EEA or Swiss nationals who work for Nato, the WHO or another international organisation in Denmark may also be encompassed by Danish or Nordic law in some cases
  • Family members of people in the above categories who do not have social health insurance in their home countries.

The card is also issued to people who normally live in Denmark but are residing outside of the country for up to one year, and are therefore removed from the Danish personal registration system. Examples of such a situation include students on international programmes, people visiting families, or au pairs or volunteers who work abroad for a limited period.

The special health card is issued for up to two years at a time and does not cost anything. It can be applied for here.

It should also be noted that people from EU countries may be able to use the EU’s European Health Insurance (EHIC) card in Denmark.

British nationals who moved to Denmark after 1st January 2021 are not covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and so cannot use the EHIC in Denmark.

However, Britons can use the UK’s new Global Health Insurance card (GHIC) to access emergency healthcare in Denmark.

Sources: borger.dk (1), (2), (3)

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HEALTH

Where are the ‘best’ hospitals in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway?

The Scandinavian countries have an international reputation for excellent healthcare, so it might not be surprising that several hospitals from the region have been ranked among the world's "best".

Published: 3 March 2024 13:55 CET
Where are the 'best' hospitals in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway?

The latest World’s Best Hospitals ranking by US-based Newsweek and global data firm Statista has revealed the top hospitals in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

Newsweek’s ranking, the only global comparison, draws from four key data sources. Firstly, recommendations from experts within the healthcare sector, including doctors and administrators, were sought. Over 85,000 experts worldwide were invited to participate, yielding responses from a significant portion of them.

Additionally, results obtained from patient surveys assessed aspects like treatment efficacy and communication. Quality metrics were also considered, including factors such as wait times, patient safety, and adherence to stringent hygiene protocols.

Lastly, the utilisation of patient-reported outcome measures measured patients’ perception of treatment efficacy and their post-care quality of life.

Sweden’s Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset was the top-ranked Scandinavian hospital on the list, ending in 7th place out of the top 231.

Denmark’s Rigshospitalet – København in Copenhagen followed closely at 21st place, with Aarhus Universitetshospital in Aarhus, Denmark, and Oslo Universitetssykehus in Norway trailing at 23rd and 29th, respectively.

Other notable mentions on the list hail from Gothenburg and Uppsala in Sweden, as well as Odense and Aalborg in Denmark.

The Scandinavian hospitals that made the list included:

Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset (7), Stockholm, Sweden

Karolinska University Hospital is one of Europe’s largest university hospitals, boasting two campuses in Huddinge and Solna.

Over the years, it has been the birthplace of some of the world’s most significant medical discoveries.

Alongside the Karolinska Institutet, the hospital forms a medical hub renowned internationally for its excellence.

Karolinska University Hospital has 1086 beds and accommodates approximately 1,400,000 patient visits annually. Moreover, it has a dedicated staff of 15,300 employees.

READ MORE: Situation in Sweden’s hospitals ‘terrible and completely unacceptable’: watchdog

Rigshospitalet – København (21), Copenhagen, Denmark

Rigshospitalet – København, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a leading Danish hospital renowned for its highly specialised treatment options.

With 1135 beds spread across multiple sites, it offers comprehensive medical care, covering virtually all medical specialities.

Employing a workforce of 12,000, including 2,500 doctors, Rigshospitalet handles an impressive volume of medical cases annually. In 2022 alone, it conducted 64,000 operations, admitted 75,000 inpatients, and facilitated 1,150,000 outpatient visits, including 5,700 deliveries.

Aarhus Universitetshospital (23), Aarhus, Denmark

As it points out on its website, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH) is a comprehensive healthcare institution. In 2022, it recorded 81,126 admissions, with an average length of stay of 3.2 days. It has an average of 858 standard beds available daily.

Its workforce comprised 1,780.47 full-time medical positions and 3,471.55 full-time nursing positions, totalling 9,347 employees across various roles.

READ MORE: ‘Confusing and no communication’: How you rate Denmark’s health system

Oslo Universitetssykehus, (29) Oslo, Norway

Oslo University Hospital (OUH) serves as a local, emergency, and regional hospital, alongside undertaking numerous national responsibilities.

With a workforce exceeding 24,000 employees and a budget of approximately 27.5 billion kroner, it is Norway’s largest healthcare institution.

Functioning as a pivotal centre for medical research and the education of healthcare professionals in Norway, Oslo University Hospital delivers advanced patient care, conducts research, provides experimental treatments, and facilitates teaching endeavours.

It comprises 16 clinics and the Oslo hospital service unit, and is also one of Scandinavia’s largest hospitals. The OUH administers over 1.2 million patient treatments annually.

READERS REVEAL: What do foreigners think of the Norwegian healthcare system?

Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset (74), Gothenburg, Sweden

Serving as the primary healthcare provider for residents of the Gothenburg region, the Sahlgrenska University Hospital draws patients from across the region seeking specialised treatments.

Its expertise spans approximately 25 special areas, encompassing cardiovascular care, reconstructive surgery, paediatrics, immunology, and catheter interventions. Notably, its Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital is nationally recognised for its excellence in child heart surgery, holding a prestigious healthcare permit from the National Board of Health and Welfare.

With a workforce of around 17,000 people, the hospital is one of the largest employers in the area.

Akademiska Sjukhuset (75), Uppsala, Sweden

Akademiska Sjukhuset, situated in Uppsala, boasts a rich history dating back to 1708.

Sweden’s inaugural nursing program was established here, and the hospital has served as a platform for Nobel Prize-winning research.

It’s recognised for conducting the first appendectomy in the Nordic region and pioneering the concept of an integrated children’s hospital.

As one of Sweden’s largest hospitals, it caters to over 700,000 people annually. With a workforce of 8,000 employees and 1,000 beds, it handles 55,000 admissions, 346,000 physician encounters, and 318,000 outpatient treatments each year.

Odense Universitetshospital (85), Odense, Denmark

Odense University Hospital (OUH) is one of Denmark’s university hospitals, forming an integral part of the country’s healthcare network alongside three others.

With an annual budget of 835 million euros, OUH employs a dedicated team of 11,281 people, including medical professionals, nurses, and support staff.

Its facilities have 1,038 beds, enabling over 40,000 operations and accommodating more than 100,000 discharged patients annually.

Aalborg Universitetshospital (92), Aalborg, Denmark

Aalborg University Hospital is the largest healthcare facility in the North Denmark Region, serving as a cornerstone of the region’s medical landscape.

Moreover, it is the primary employer in northern Jutland, with a workforce of around 6,000 people.

With a focus on highly specialised regional functions, Aalborg University Hospital caters to approximately 650,000 inhabitants, extending its services to parts of the Central Denmark Region.

Additionally, it provides regional functions to around 490,000 residents and serves as the primary healthcare provider for roughly 250,000 people.

About the ranking process

Newsweek ranked 2,400 hospitals across 30 countries in total through a combination of their national rank, the number of recommendations received through an online survey of more than 85,000 medical experts, public data from post-hospitalisation patient satisfaction surveys, quality metrics such as hygiene and patient-doctor ratio, as well as a Statista survey on whether hospitals use Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). The list did not include specialised hospitals.

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