3,700 Danes suddenly without a doctor: Politician demands immediate action
A total of 3,700 Danes are now without a general practitioner, prompting a prominent politician to raise the alarm. Peter Skaarup from the Danish People’s Party (Danmarksdemokraterne) calls the situation grotesque and unacceptable in a welfare society like Denmark. Speaking to TV2 East, he said: “It is grotesque and insane in a welfare society that there are more and more places in the country where you cannot receive treatment from a doctor. We cannot allow this.”
The problem arose after the Medical Office at Isefjorden in Nykøbing Sjælland had to close due to a massive workload. The lack of general practitioners is not only a problem in Nykøbing Sjælland, but a challenge seen in several parts of the country. According to figures from the Danish Local Government Association (Kommunernes Landsforening), the number of general practitioners has increased by a modest 42 from 2009 to 2023, while the number of doctors in Danish hospitals has grown by a staggering 43% in the same period, equivalent to over 5,000 new hospital doctors.
Heino Knudsen, chairman of the Regional Council in Region Zealand, assures that the situation is being taken seriously. Speaking to TV2 East, he said: “I can say with certainty that no one will be left without a doctor. It is crucial to emphasize this, so that nobody feels insecure. The doctors will only stop working in December, so we will definitely find a solution in time.”
However, Peter Skaarup believes that a more urgent solution is needed. He suggests that doctors be transported to the area until a permanent solution is in place.