The Danish Health Authority is developing proposals for a National Health Plan, standardized general practice services, and chronic disease care pathways to improve access, quality, and coordination. The reforms, involving stakeholders, start in 2027 for a more equitable, integrated health system.
In May 2025, the Danish Health Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen) announced the development of technical proposals for three major initiatives under the ongoing health reform, designed to future-proof Denmark’s healthcare system. The first initiative is the National Health Plan, which aims to establish a unified and ambitious vision for the health sector over the next 8 to 10 years. This plan seeks to improve accessibility by ensuring patients receive the right treatment more easily, promote care closer to people’s homes, and guarantee equitable treatment for all citizens across the country. The second initiative involves creating a detailed Task Description for general practice services, intended to standardize and enhance the quality of general medical care nationwide regardless of location. This framework will work in harmony with related reform components such as a new agreement model and revised fee structures for general practitioners, thereby strengthening the foundation of primary care.
The third key initiative focuses on developing package pathways tailored to individuals with chronic diseases, aiming to create more coherent, efficient, and coordinated care experiences for patients with complex health needs. The Danish Health Authority plans to roll out five disease-specific package pathways over the coming years: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic low back pain in 2027, type 2 diabetes in 2028, heart disease in 2029, and complex multimorbidity by 2031. Complementing these, a generic model for chronic disease pathways will be designed in 2025 to provide a consistent structure for the development and coordination of all five packages, emphasizing integration across healthcare sectors and assigning a central role to general practice. Digital tools and data will be integrated into this model to enable personalized care, better disease management, and efficient coordination.
Following a government agreement on the reform reached in November 2024, various stakeholders including regions, municipalities, patient groups, and professional organizations have been engaged in follow-up groups to support the development process. The new healthcare system structure is planned for implementation starting January 1, 2027, marking a transformative step towards a more accessible, equitable, and coordinated health system in Denmark.
