Starting Sunday, the treatment of individuals with both mental illness and substance abuse issues will be consolidated into one system. The five Danish regions will take over responsibility for those who suffer from so-called dual diagnoses, which affects approximately 9,200 citizens in Denmark. This change aims to create more cohesive and continuous treatment pathways for a particularly vulnerable patient group, who have previously had to navigate between municipal substance abuse treatment and regional mental health services.

Jacob Klærke (Socialistisk Folkeparti – SF), chairman of the Psychiatry and Social Committee in the Danish Regions, believes that consolidating these efforts will lead to better outcomes for both the affected patients and their families. According to Professor of Health Economics Jakob Kjellberg from the National Research and Analysis Center for Welfare (Vive), the treatment for this group has not been functioning optimally, as patients have often found themselves caught between two systems.

The debate over where dual diagnosis treatment should best reside has been discussed multiple times since the structural reform in 2007. Last year, it was finally decided among the government, municipalities, and regions that responsibility would be centralized within the regions starting from September 1, 2024.

Kjellberg points out that action is necessary for this vulnerable group, particularly given that the quality of treatment in small municipalities has often been inadequate. By consolidating treatment under the regions, there is hope for a higher professional standard.

The new division of responsibilities may also be a precursor to a larger reform of the healthcare system. An expert group presented their proposals for future organization before the summer, and the government is expected to unveil its vision in the upcoming autumn.