A new government bill proposes changes to clinic management, potentially leading to rotating doctors and increased bureaucracy, sparking concerns about patient care and costs. The proposal grants regions the authority to manage clinics, employ doctors on a rotating basis, and oversee daily operations. This shift could replace regular doctors with unfamiliar faces, disrupting the security and familiarity patients currently experience.

The current system, costing approximately 1,500–2,000 kroner per citizen annually through taxes, provides patients with a dedicated general practitioner who handles a wide range of healthcare needs, including wound care, children’s examinations, cancer follow-up, and chronic disease management. General practitioners manage over 85% of patient contacts while accounting for only about 10% of healthcare costs, highlighting the system’s efficiency.

The proposed changes raise concerns about increased costs and a decline in patient care. The shift towards publicly owned clinics, more expensive operations, and greater bureaucracy could burden taxpayers. Weakening the doctor’s role as gatekeeper may also lead to more frequent and costly hospital visits.

The author, a general practitioner, emphasizes the importance of knowing patients, their families, and their life stories, highlighting the personal connection fostered by the current system. The author expresses concern that the proposed changes threaten the commitment and dedication that come with ownership and freedom in their practice. The author urges the public to voice their concerns and support the current system to preserve the security, familiarity, and cost-effectiveness of having a regular doctor. The author believes the proposed changes risk trading this valuable system for an anonymous and more expensive one.