Outside In: Exploring What it’s Like to Go to the Doctor in Denmark

 
Denmark is known for its universal healthcare, but what is it really like to go to the doctor in Denmark? Everyone registered as living in Denmark has the right to access healthcare. If you break an arm or have a nasty cough, contact your doctor and get on the road to recovery! While the popular understanding of universal healthcare in Denmark is considered “free,” it is not; the system is upheld largely through high taxes on its citizens.

Becoming part of the Danish healthcare system follows a few logistical steps, and then you’re ready to go! First, you select a general practitioner in your kommune (municipality). Then, you must register for and receive your sunhedskort (health insurance card) before you’re able to reap the benefits of the Danish healthcare system.

 
 

Is the Danish Healthcare System the Best in Europe?

Digitization of medical services through user-guided platforms make contacting your doctor easier. The digitized Danish system also makes it easier for patients and doctors to review medical history on one system.

The high quality of treatment that patients receive is just one of the pluses that have ranked the Danish healthcare system third in Europe.

 
 

What does the Danish healthcare system offer?

Universal healthcare in Denmark is structured into “three administrative levels of state, regional, and municipalities.” Each level regulates a part of the healthcare system. The state governs the system. Private and public healthcare services are maintained regionally, while each municipality oversees local services to its citizens. These tiers make it easier to allocate necessary assistance quickly.

If you live in a country without universal healthcare, being able to go to the doctor “for free” might seem idyllic. There are some bottlenecks, however, to easy use of the system. Wait times to receive specialist care, or difficulty for specific demographics to receive accurate care (i.e. medical racism) are documented challenges.

Additional challenges to maintaining universal healthcare in Denmark are increased life expectancy of the population, leading to an increased need for care, and an increasingly stagnant employment rate. Denmark spends between $4.000.- 6.000 USD annually per person on healthcare, which is 10% of Denmark’s GDP.

For this edition of Outside In, we spoke with two people about their experiences with the general physician (GP) system in Denmark, and what it’s like to go to the doctor in the country as both a local and an immigrant:

 

Denmark is known for its universal healthcare, but what is it really like to go to the doctor in Denmark? Everyone registered as living in Denmark has the right to access healthcare. If you break an arm or have a nasty cough, contact your doctor and get on the road to recovery! While the popular understanding of universal healthcare in Denmark is considered “free,” it is not; the system is upheld largely through high taxes on its citizens.

Becoming part of the Danish healthcare system follows a few logistical steps, and then you’re ready to go! First, you select a general practitioner in your kommune (municipality). Then, you must register for and receive your sunhedskort (health insurance card) before you’re able to reap the benefits of the Danish healthcare system.

 
 

Is the Danish Healthcare System the Best in Europe?

Digitization of medical services through user-guided platforms make contacting your doctor easier. The digitized Danish system also makes it easier for patients and doctors to review medical history on one system.

The high quality of treatment that patients receive is just one of the pluses that have ranked the Danish healthcare system third in Europe.

 

 
 

What does the Danish healthcare system offer?

Universal healthcare in Denmark is structured into “three administrative levels of state, regional, and municipalities.” Each level regulates a part of the healthcare system. The state governs the system. Private and public healthcare services are maintained regionally, while each municipality oversees local services to its citizens. These tiers make it easier to allocate necessary assistance quickly.

If you live in a country without universal healthcare, being able to go to the doctor “for free” might seem idyllic. There are some bottlenecks, however, to easy use of the system. Wait times to receive specialist care, or difficulty for specific demographics to receive accurate care (i.e. medical racism) are documented challenges.

Additional challenges to maintaining universal healthcare in Denmark are increased life expectancy of the population, leading to an increased need for care, and an increasingly stagnant employment rate. Denmark spends between $4.000.- 6.000 USD annually per person on healthcare, which is 10% of Denmark’s GDP.

For this edition of Outside In, we spoke with two people about their experiences with the general physician (GP) system in Denmark, and what it’s like to go to the doctor in the country as both a local and an immigrant:

By being a part of it and asking people around me.

I chose the doctor closest to my address when I moved to Copenhagen and learned to navigate the system as I went along.

I never received an introduction or anything like that.

By being a part of it and asking people around me.

I chose the doctor closest to my address when I moved to Copenhagen and learned to navigate the system as I went along.

I never received an introduction or anything like that.
 

 

Phone, messages through the online platform of the specific doctor/office, and sometimes walk-in.

In Hungary, it was similar: phone or walk-in.

Phone or email via the clinic website.

Phone, messages through the online platform of the specific doctor/office, and sometimes walk-in.

In Hungary, it was similar: phone or walk-in.

Phone or email via the clinic website.

 

I contact and visit the doctor two to three times per year.

When I visit the doctor, I indicate that I will speak in English and ask if they are okay with that. I translate specific medical terms to Danish to make sure they understand my problem.

I contact the doctor three to four times per year, and visit the doctor two to three times per year.

I speak Danish with my doctor. If I did not understand Danish, I would hope that the GP or clinic would provide some form of introduction to the digital platform, a general introduction to how to book an appointment and when to contact the clinic.

I contact and visit the doctor two to three times per year.

When I visit the doctor, I indicate that I will speak in English and ask if they are okay with that. I translate specific medical terms to Danish to make sure they understand my problem.

I contact the doctor three to four times per year, and visit the doctor two to three times per year.

I speak Danish with my doctor. If I did not understand Danish, I would hope that the GP or clinic would provide some form of introduction to the digital platform, a general introduction to how to book an appointment and when to contact the clinic.

More often than not, yes. I do think that the doctor downplays the importance [of what I’m feeling].

For example, I had severe pain in my knees for several months. It got to a point where I couldn’t even sleep anymore. I went to see a doctor, who didn’t do any tests, but asked if I was taking painkillers. I said yes. She told me to take more of them and there is nothing else she could do.

She didn’t even care to look into the cause of the problem, which made me feel like she didn’t think I was telling the truth.

For the most part, yes.

More often than not, yes. I do think that the doctor downplays the importance [of what I’m feeling].

For example, I had severe pain in my knees for several months. It got to a point where I couldn’t even sleep anymore. I went to see a doctor, who didn’t do any tests, but asked if I was taking painkillers. I said yes. She told me to take more of them and there is nothing else she could do.

She didn’t even care to look into the cause of the problem, which made me feel like she didn’t think I was telling the truth.

For the most part, yes.

Yes. They make me feel like I am lying about my issues or trying to exaggerate them.

I often feel like they do not believe me when I explain the severity of my pain or other issues I have.

I feel free to speak to my doctor.

I do sometimes feel that my doctor is short on time. I do not take it personally, but I see it as a result of a poor prioritization in healthcare: having too few general physicians per patient.

I have confidence in my GP’s skills, but at the same time, I feel that I need to make a big effort to explain my symptoms, in case my GP is stressed or distracted due to a shortage of time. It makes me feel ambivalent.

Yes. They make me feel like I am lying about my issues or trying to exaggerate them.

I often feel like they do not believe me when I explain the severity of my pain or other issues I have.

I feel free to speak to my doctor.

I do sometimes feel that my doctor is short on time. I do not take it personally, but I see it as a result of a poor prioritization in healthcare: having too few general physicians per patient.

I have confidence in my GP’s skills, but at the same time, I feel that I need to make a big effort to explain my symptoms, in case my GP is stressed or distracted due to a shortage of time. It makes me feel ambivalent.

No, only if very necessary.

That feeling is based on my own experience, as I explained above, and similar stories heard from friends.

Generally, yes. I think that people are encouraged by professionals to use the medical system.

No, only if very necessary.

That feeling is based on my own experience, as I explained above, and similar stories heard from friends.

Generally, yes. I think that people are encouraged by professionals to use the medical system.

No. I’ll go to a private doctor in my home country when I have a medical issue that needs immediate attention. I ended up paying a lot of money because I wasn’t able to get a simple referral from my GP here.

My GP wouldn’t give me a referral even after visiting her several times with an issue I had for over the course of two years. She tried to find solutions herself, none of which worked. After these failed attempts, she still wouldn’t send me to a specialist even though I was almost begging her.

Overall, yes.

There is certainly room for improvement in service and consultation time; to have more and better of both.

I feel confident, however, that all general physicians in Denmark are well-educated and take pride in their profession.

In general, and in comparison to many other countries, I feel fortunate that I do not have to worry about getting medical help if I need it.

No. I’ll go to a private doctor in my home country when I have a medical issue that needs immediate attention. I ended up paying a lot of money because I wasn’t able to get a simple referral from my GP here.

My GP wouldn’t give me a referral even after visiting her several times with an issue I had for over the course of two years. She tried to find solutions herself, none of which worked. After these failed attempts, she still wouldn’t send me to a specialist even though I was almost begging her.

Overall, yes.

There is certainly room for improvement in service and consultation time; to have more and better of both.

I feel confident, however, that all general physicians in Denmark are well-educated and take pride in their profession.

In general, and in comparison to many other countries, I feel fortunate that I do not have to worry about getting medical help if I need it.

Absolutely. This “gatekeeping” has happened to me several times. It took me over a year to convince my GP to give me a referral to a specialist because he/she misdiagnosed me, prescribed the wrong medication, etc.

All this would have never happened if a specialist saw me in the first place. I would rather pay money for a private doctor, just to avoid the struggle of trying to get a referral and being treated like I do not have a real problem.

I’ve spoken with Danish friends who have experienced similar difficulties, so I wouldn’t necessarily say being an immigrant is the reason for these issues.

I do believe, however, immigration may play a role in why the gatekeeper system exists in the first place!

Yes. On multiple occasions, I have needed my physician’s approval or authorization for treatments. In some instances, it has seemed bizarre, as my GP is not the one doing the treatment.

I find this aspect of the system inefficient, as it slows down the process of getting well. First, you have to find an available time for the physical consultation that is often required to get to the referral step.

Second, you spend time explaining symptoms or reasons for treatment, which is done superficially due to lack of consultation time and the fact that the GP is not the one carrying out the treatment.

Finally, it gives the GP enormous power over the patient, which, in the worst of cases, could be harmful to the patient.

Absolutely. This “gatekeeping” has happened to me several times. It took me over a year to convince my GP to give me a referral to a specialist because he/she misdiagnosed me, prescribed the wrong medication, etc.

All this would have never happened if a specialist saw me in the first place. I would rather pay money for a private doctor, just to avoid the struggle of trying to get a referral and being treated like I do not have a real problem.

I’ve spoken with Danish friends who have experienced similar difficulties, so I wouldn’t necessarily say being an immigrant is the reason for these issues.

I do believe, however, immigration may play a role in why the gatekeeper system exists in the first place!.

Yes. On multiple occasions, I have needed my physician’s approval or authorization for treatments. In some instances, it has seemed bizarre, as my GP is not the one doing the treatment.

I find this aspect of the system inefficient, as it slows down the process of getting well. First, you have to find an available time for the physical consultation that is often required to get to the referral step.

Second, you spend time explaining symptoms or reasons for treatment, which is done superficially due to lack of consultation time and the fact that the GP is not the one carrying out the treatment.

Finally, it gives the GP enormous power over the patient, which, in the worst of cases, could be harmful to the patient.