A new agreement aims to reshape the healthcare system by addressing the shortage of medical specialists and improving medical coverage across the country. The agreement, known as the “spring agreement,” involves the government, Danish Regions, and KL (Local Government Denmark).

The core of the agreement focuses on increasing the number of training positions for medical specialists, particularly in general medicine, psychiatry, and geriatrics. Starting in 2026, the agreement allows for 130 additional medical specialists to be trained annually, bringing the total to 1270, the highest number ever.

The Danish Medical Association welcomes the agreement. Camilla Rathcke, Chairman of the association, acknowledged the Health Minister for listening to concerns about the shortage.

The reform introduces a cap on specialist positions in university hospitals and other hospitals in the capital region to achieve a better distribution of doctors. The Danish Medical Association expressed reservations about the effectiveness of employment ceilings in resolving shortages.

The “spring agreement” allocates DKK 4.2 billion to move healthcare tasks from municipalities to regions and DKK 3.5 billion for investments in IT, technology, and equipment. The health reform from November 2024 represents the largest healthcare overhaul in two decades.

The goal is to train 400 general practitioners annually with the broader ambition of having at least 5000 general practitioners in ten years, representing a forty percent increase.