The Danish health care system

The Danish health care system is characterized by free and equal access to health care services. This principle has the same high priority regardless of the party in office. Free and equal access to health care services and universal coverage go hand in hand with a strong determination to control costs. Within the last fifteen years, the freedom to select the hospital of one's choice has also become a very important part of the health care system.

The health care system in Denmark is mainly publicly financed through taxes, and is decentralized, with three administrative levels: state, county and municipality. The state's task in health care provision is, first and foremost, to initiate, coordinate, advise, and legislate. The counties are responsible for providing health care services within the limits set by the state. The municipalities are responsible for district nursing, public health care, school health care, and child dental treatment.

The provision of health care services by municipalities and counties is negotiated every year in the national budget negotiation. The budget negotiation takes place between the government on the one hand, and the Danish regions (counties) and Local Government Denmark (LGDK) on the other. Agreements are typically in the form of recommendations for local and country tax rates and agreements on injecting capital into specific health care areas or projects, such as cancer treatment or waiting times. Introduction of activity-based financing has also been agreed on in budget negotiations.