Health Care

The Danish Health Care System

Denmark has a comprehensive public health care system, including doctors, medical specialists, hospitals, health service, home care, health visitor services, paediatric dental care and more. The Danish health care system is based on the principle of equal access to the health care system’s services for all citizens.

Municipality or Region?

The municipalities are responsible for preventative health care programmes for children, home nursing, health visitor services, paediatric dental care and in-school health services. The municipalities issue health insurance cards and administer citizens’ choice of doctor (GP) and health insurance scheme group. The five regions are responsible for operating the hospitals and psychiatric treatment in the regions.

Public Health Insurance

You are automatically entitled to public health services once you have registered in Denmark and received your CPR number and yellow health insurance card. Please be aware that the Public Health Insurance does not necessarily cover all your health care wishes or needs.

The health insurance card is sent to you by your municipal authority and is proof that you are entitled to public health treatment. The card states your name, address and CPR number and the name and address of your GP.

You must take your health insurance card with you when you visit the GP, dentist, hospital emergency or in the event of hospitalisation, as well as when you travel outside Denmark. The health insurance card provides cover if you fall ill or have an accident while travelling in Europe as long as the trip is for pleasure and you are away for less than a month.´

For more information: www.sundhed.dk (only in Danish)

Selecting a Doctor

When you register with the national register in your municipal authority, you can choose which GP you want; whether you prefer a male or female doctor, for example. The doctor’s name, address and telephone will appear on your health insurance card.

Access to the public health service is through your GP. Your GP can treat some health problems immediately. Others may require a referral for further examination or treatment by a specialist or at a hospital.

Hospitals

In Denmark, you can freely choose which hospital you want to be admitted to. However, note that all hospitals do not offer all specialised departments.

Some are located in particular hospitals around the country, also in smaller towns, so please consult your GP about your choice of hospital.

A list of hospitals in Denmark can be found here.

Dental Care

Free dental care from 0 to 18

All children in Denmark are entitled to free dental health care up until the age of 18. They attend regular dental check-ups approximately every half year. Here, they learn how to look after their teeth, and their teeth are treated and adjusted where necessary.

School dental care

When your child begins school, it will automatically be called for a dental check-up, sometimes located at the school. Dental healthcare workers also visit schools to teach children how to look after their teeth.

Adult dental care

Adults over 18 must find their own private dentist, for example, by looking in the local telephone directory or searching the Internet for dentist located near you. You have to pay for check-ups and treatment, but the state pays around 40% of the costs. However, for adults between the ages of 18-25, the statuary health insurance will generally pay 65% of the costs. This amount is automatically deducted from your bill. If you want to save costs you can go to a dentistry school where you are treated by advanced dental students under close supervision.

If you have private health insurance, you can get extra financial assistance to pay for regular and special treatment or major dental operations.

“Tandlægevagt” – Emergency Dental Service

Should you be in need of dental service outside opening hours (8am-4pm), a list is available at The Danish Dentist Association website (only in Danish). You may find the emergency dentists, listed by region, by clicking here.

Medicine

Look for the “Apotek” sign when you need a pharmacySome types of medicine can only be bought with a medical prescription. Others can be bought without. Medicine requiring a doctor’s prescription can only be bought at a pharmacy (“Apotek”). General medicine without a prescription can also be bought in supermarkets, at grocery stores and at some petrol stations or 7-Eleven.

Medicine which requires a prescription is usually expensive. The Danish National Health Service therefore subsidizes medicine in most cases. As a consumer, you automatically receive a reimbursement once you buy medicine eligible for reimbursement for more than DKK 850 a year. The more money you spend on medicine, the more reimbursement you get.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are typically open from 9.30 – 17.30 on weekdays and 9.30 – 12.00 or 14.00 on Saturdays.

24-hour and on-call pharmacies

The National Board of Health determines which pharmacies are to be on duty 24 hours. There are 11 of these in the country. Some pharmacies are on part-time duty, a couple of hours after closing and during weekends and holidays. Other pharmacies are on call at certain hours after closing. All pharmacies will have a sign in their window referring to the nearest on duty pharmacy, outside opening hours.

Children’s Examinations and Vaccinations

In Denmark, every child will through the age five weeks to nine years receive nine preventive health examinations by your GP. The examinations follow a set programme as to thoroughly monitor the child’s development and well-being. You must make an appointment with your GP for these examinations.

All children will as well be vaccinated for several different diseases. The vaccinations will be given by your GP which you will have to make an appointment with. The vaccinations include diphtheria(Di), tetanus(Te), whooping cough(Ki), polio(Pol), measles, mumps, German measles(MFR) and meningitis(Hib).

Emergency (112)

In case of an emergency, dial 112In case of emergency and/or if someone needs immediate medical treatment, you can call the emergency call centre at 112. When you have dialled 112, you will hear the following message (in Danish): “De har kaldt alarmcentralen 112. Brandvæsen, politi og ambulance. Vent roligt her” (Translated: You have called the emergency call centre 112. Fire service, police and ambulance. Please wait). After ca. 10 seconds your call will be answered. The staff speaks English, and will ask what has happened, where it happened, and how many are injured. The call centre will then make sure that an ambulance or the police or some other form of help is sent immediately.

The emergency number 112 is the same in all of the European Union.

Note: If you need to contact the police, please dial 114.

“Vagtlægen” – Your Emergency Doctor

If you need the doctor after 4 p.m. on weekdays, or around the clock at weekends and public holidays, you must call the emergency doctor service. The telephone number of your emergency doctor service is in your telephone directory. Copenhagen emergency doctor service (incl. Frederiksberg, Tårnby and Dragør) can be reached at 70 13 00 41, Aarhus/Central Jutland emergency doctor service at 70 11 31 31, Zealand emergency doctor service at 70 15 07 00, Northern Jutland emergency doctor service at 70 15 03 00 and Southern Denmark emergency doctor service at 70 11 07 07. For more area specific phone numbers go to http://www.vagtlaegen.dk (only in Danish).

When you call the emergency doctor service, the on-duty doctor will ask you how you are feeling. Or if you are calling on someone else’s behalf, they will ask how he or she is feeling. Based on the answers, the doctor will assess whether you should visit your own doctor the next day, whether a doctor should visit you at home, or whether you should drive over to the emergency doctor service or go to hospital emergency. You will also be asked for your own or the patient’s personal identification number.

Psychologists

For expats needing a consultation with a psychologist in Denmark, but maybe don’t feel comfortable with explaining themselves in Danish, it has come to our attention that there are several expat psychologists, who are expats themselves:

Sandra Gabriela Gonzales is born in Argentina. She has lived, studied and worked in Spain, Italy, England and the US. She offers Individual psychotherapy, Group psychotherapy and personal Consultation. Psychotherapy is offered in English, Spanish, and Italian.

Peter MacFarlane is a psychologist from the US with a PhD in clinical psychology and specializes in expat issues.

  • Website: www.petermacfarlane.dk

Kit Green offers counseling and psychotherapy for adults who faces challenges with stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol, food, grief or loss. She also helps those who find transition difficult or have issues facing living abroad. Counselling in English or Danish.

Florence Noer is a Psychologist, licensed from Copenhagen University and specialized in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). She gives psychotherapy in english (as well as danish) and is situated in Nørrebro, Copenhagen.

Nikki Gordon Skovby is Harvard educated, American Board Certified Psychiatrist practicing psychotherapy in Denmark. She takes a comprehensive approach to mental health and uses a range of therapeutic modalities.

  • Phone: +45 31363035
  • Website: www.gmi-md.com

Psychologist Sabine Schrøder offers counseling and psychotherapy in English. The therapy is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which has a well-documented effect. Sabine has worked and studied in the U.S.A., Australia and Denmark. She has a master’s degree in clinical psychology from University of Copenhagen and a bachelor and honours degree from University of Melbourne, Australia. Sabine helps teenagers and adults with anxiety, depression, stress, OCD, eating disorders, grief and PTSD. The clinic is located in Helsingør, north of Copenhagen.

Berit Mus Christensen is a multilingual, authorized psychologist. She offers therapy in English, Dutch and Danish and understands German well enough for clients to speak German in therapy if she can answer in English. She is located in Aarhus.

Henriette Johnson, Integrative-Relationel Counsellor & Psychotherapist, is a UK trained therapist who offers therapy in both English and Danish or via Skype. She has a practice in Odense.

  • Phone: +45 51886187
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: http://ecpinodense.wixsite.com/ecpinodense

Karen Raaberg-Møller is a licensed psychologist. She has worked as a psychologist for many years in Denmark. She teaches clinical psychology at an American college and has private clients. A session is 500 kr. and is held in a private apartment. She gives sessions in English and has several international clients.

  • Website: www.vesterbropsykolog.dk

Anette Rafn Sigurdson is a certified psychotherapist and coach. She offers support groups as well as individual counseling specifically for expats and trailing spouses living in Denmark. Anette has 10 years of experience counseling individuals and groups in Danish and in English. In her previous career as an international project manager, she has spent 20 years traveling the world.

Anita Mayntzhusen has a master in Educational Psychology. She has been an expat child and adult and has done reseach on the child perspectuce on leading an expat life. She runs Global Children that provides counseling to expat families arriving and leaving Denmark, in how to address the family’s transition of moving to a new country. Her counseling provides tools to assist the children and family in adapting to their new environment.

Laura Francioli is a psychologist from Italy who offers consultation in Italian and English.

Heidi Thygesen is a psychologist who offers therapy in English, Danish and understands German well enough to communicate with clients, who speaks German while answering in English/German. Offers E-therapy if clients prefer to stay home or is abroad. Walk-and-Talk-Therapy is offered every Wednesday. Expat experience from own stay abroad. Helping children, teenagera, adults with anxiety, stress, depression, PTSD and expat or work challenges.

Cristina Montoro is an international psychologist and psychotherapist based in Copenhagen where she has her own clinical practice. She is specialized in expats. She does sessions in English and Spanish.

Julie Bohr is a a UK qualified psychotherapist, counsellor and mediator. She offers relationship
therapy to couples, families and individuals and therapy to children. She is situated in Copenhagen.

  • Website: www.juliebohr.dk

Karleen Paquette is an American Clinical Psychologist with a Ph.D. and an active California license (authorization). Karleen speaks English & Danish and works with expats & Danes to help with depression, stress, identity crisis, life transitions/ adjustment, etc.
Karleen has offices located in Aarhus, Randers, Mariager and Aalborg, and is available on Skype as well.

  • Phone: + 45 53 55 29 32
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: http://karleenpaquette.dk/en_US/

Debbie Quackenbush is an American psychologist with over 25 years of experience and is authorized to practice in Denmark. Her services include individual, couples, family and group psychotherapy, psychological assessment and diagnosis as well as individual and group supervision.

  • Phone: +45 60 54 72 02
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: http://www.debbiequackenbush.com/

Malene Windfeldt is an international psychologist who is specialized in expats. She has expat experience from several stays abroad. Malene offers individual counselling and couples’ counselling. Her focus is on finding new coping strategies in order to live a happier expat life. The clinic is located in Ordrup, just north of Copenhagen. Malene also offers the option of E-therapy for those preferring to stay at home.

Chiropractic in Denmark

Chiropractic treatment in Denmark is partially subsidized by the health care system, providing you have a yellow insurance card.

It is not necessary to contact your medical practitioner for a referral to a chiropractor. Just call a chiropractor and book a consultation. Remember your insurance card!

If you require further information concerning chiropractic, we know of an English chiropractor Jay Nichol D.C. residing in Denmark, who will be happy to answer any questions at phone +45 38330336.

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