In Denmark, responsibility for the public health care services is distributed on three administrative levels: the state, the regions and the municipalities. The state is responsible for legislation, monitoring and the overall framework and guidelines relating to the provision of health care. The regions are responsible for running the hospitals and the practice sector, while the municipalities’ responsibilities include home nursing, school health services, child dental treatment and social services.

For an overview of the scope and organisation of the Danish health service, we suggest you read the publication “Health care in Denmark”, published by the Danish Ministry of Health and Prevention in 2008.

The Ministry of Health was established on 3 October 2011. The responsibilities of the Ministry of Health include administrative functions related to the organisation and finance of the health care system, psychiatry, health insurance and prevention and health promotion. For more information about the ministry and the job it does, visit the web site: www.sum.dk.

Denmark is divided into five administrative regions. Their primary responsibility is healthcare, including hospital services, psychiatry, health insurance, general practitioners, specialists, emergency medical services and the operation of a variety of social institutions.

The five administrative regions are:

·         Region Hovedstaden: Capital Region of Denmark

·         Region Midtjylland: Central Denmark Region

·         Region Nordjylland: North Denmark Region

·         Region Sjælland: Region Zealand

·         Region Syddanmark: Region of Southern Denmark

Read more about the different regions, their services and facilities, on their respective websites.

If you live in Aarhus municipality or in one of the municipalities around Aarhus, you live in the Central Denmark Region. The Central Denmark Region includes the 19 municipalities: Favrskov, Hedensted, Herning, Holstebro, Horsens, Ikast-Brande, Lemvig, Norddjurs, Odder, Randers, Ringkøbing-Skjern, Samsø, Silkeborg, Skanderborg, Skive, Struer, Syddjurs, Viborg and Aarhus. The region’s administration headquarters is in Viborg. You can read more about the Central Denmark Region and its health care services on the Central Denmark Region website.

Legislation ensures that patients get the best possible treatment and care in all situations. It regulates and secures the rights of patients, their right to lodge complaints and to receive compensation for injuries incurred in connection with treatment by Danish health services.

Patient Insurance Association (Patientforsikringen) pays compensation to patients harmed in connection with treatment by Danish health services. To read more about the Patient Insurance Association and legislation related to patients’ rights, visit the Patient Insurance Association website. You can also read more about patient rights in the publication “Health care in Denmark”.

Chapter 2 in the publication “Health care in Denmark” published by the Danish Ministry of Health and Prevention in 2008, explains how health care is financed in Denmark.

For an overview of the scope and organisation of the Danish health service, we suggest you read the publication “Health care in Denmark”, published by the Danish Ministry of Health and Prevention in 2008. 

For information about Patient Insurance and the laws and regulations applicable to patients’ rights visit www.patientforsikringen.dk.

Central Denmark Region’s headquarter is located at
Skottenborg 26
Box 21
DK-8800 Viborg
Phone: +45 8728 5000
e-mail: kontakt@regionmidtjylland.dk
internet: www.regionmidtjylland.dk

For further information about the Danish regions and their responsibilities visit www.regioner.dk, where you can also find the contact information to all the five administrative regions.

For information about the Danish Ministry of Interior and Health and the Danish health care system, visit www.sum.dk.