NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE CARD

All permanent residents in Denmark are eligible to use the healthcare system. Permanent residents receive a national health insurance card from their local authority which acts as an identity card and must be shown on visits to doctors, emergency rooms and hospitals. Anyone acutely ill is entitled to free hospital treatment, and this also applies to visitors from other countries.

INTERPRETER

If you do not speak or understand Danish, the staff can call in an interpreter to assist you. Likewise, if you need an interpreter at an appointment with a doctor, midwife, health visitor or visiting nurse you should indicate this when you make the appointment. This service is free of charge. Interpreters are neutral and bound by the rules of professional secrecy.

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

Anyone resident in Denmark is entitled to be registered with a general practitioner (GP). Your own GP will normally be able to find out what is wrong with you and how to treat you, but in some cases, may refer you to a specialist or a hospital. The name, address and telephone number of your GP is written on your national health insurance card. In order to see a GP, you will have to make an appointment by phone or via the internet.

If you are dissatisfied with your GP, you can change to another one. Changing a GP without moving to a new address at least 15 kilometres from where your current GP is will incur a 190 kroner fee. If you change GP as a result of moving, that is free of charge.

If you need medication, your GP will prescribe it for you. Prescription medicines can only be bought at pharmacies.

SPECIALIST DOCTORS

If your GP deems it necessary, you may

be referred to a specialist. Some specialists require no referral, such as eye specialists and ear, nose and throat specialists.

OUT-OF-HOURS SERVICES

If you become ill outside your own GP’s service hours, you can call the out-ofhours service.

In most cases you will have to go to a treatment centre yourself to see an out-of-hours doctor. The out-of-hours service is open from 4 pm to 8 am on weekdays, weekends, and on public holidays.

EMERGENCY ROOMS

Located at hospitals, emergency rooms are for serious injuries that your own GP cannot treat. At some hospitals you have to phone the emergency room in advance to let them know that you are coming.

ALARM 112

If you need an ambulance, call the emergency centre at 112, stating your name and explaining what has happened, where and when it happened, and where you are calling from.

PREGNANCY

If you are pregnant, you may be examined several times during the pregnancy by your own GP and a midwife. Ultrasound scanning is also available in hospitals to make sure that all is well with you and the baby and to identify any potential problems as early as possible in your pregnancy.

When you are pregnant, the first examination in your pregnancy will be carried out by your GP, who will create a maternity record that you must bring along to all subsequent appointments. Your GP will notify a midwife of your pregnancy. The midwife will then contact you to make an appointment. Together with your GP you can decide at which hospital you want to give birth to your child. You can also elect to give birth at home with the assistance of a midwife.

Registering

Termination

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In Denmark all women have the right to opt for termination of the pregnancy at a hospital in the first twelve weeks. In order to obtain a termination you must contact your GP, who will then refer you to a hospital.

Childcare In Denmark

You will receive assistance from a health visitor in your home when your child has been born up to the age of 2. In addition to examining your child, the visitor can answer any other related questions you may have.

Health Checks And Child Vaccination

All children can be examined and vaccinated free-of-charge. All children in Denmark are also entitled to free dental care until they reach the age of 18. Upon reaching school age, local authority doctors and nurses will perform preventative examinations of children in their first and last years of schooling, and children will receive automatic appointments with the school dentist. If your child encounters problems at school, you can talk to the school psychologist about them.

Help And Care In Your Own Home

Special services are offered to elderly people who need care and assistance. Elderly people may apply for home help for personal care, cleaning and as- sistance with shopping. You can also apply for help if you are very ill.

Elderly people and those who are very ill can also request a district nurse to come to their home to provide care and administer medication. A doctor will assess your needs in this respect. If you have been hospitalised you may need home help or a nurse to help you when you return to home. Normally, the hospital will contact your local authority to make sure you will be given the help and assistance you need.

Read More

The information in the above article is taken from a brochure issued by the Danish Health Authority and the Danish Cancer Society. The easiest way to obtain this brochure is to visit cancer. dk/international/english, click on ‘Cancer prevention’ and find the link that reads: The Danish healthcare system. For information about the coronavirus in Denmark, see the Health Authority’s website: sst.dk/en/English