The government has just announced a comprehensive healthcare reform that involves the merger of the Capital Region of Denmark (Region Hovedstaden) and the Zealand Region (Region Sjælland) to create a new Eastern Denmark Region (Region Østdanmark). This new regional setup will serve approximately 2.8 million residents, nearly half of the country’s population. The aim of the merger is to create more uniform healthcare services across Zealand and the surrounding islands, where there are currently significant disparities.

Lars Gaardhøj, the chairman of the Capital Region, and Torben Klitmøller Hollmann, the Social Democrats’ (Socialdemokratiet) leading candidate in the Zealand Region, are both vying to lead the new mega-region. Gaardhøj views the merger as an opportunity to establish a closer collaborative structure to address some of the challenges that the regions have faced separately. He is prepared to take on the political and managerial responsibilities that come with the reform, expressing his willingness to head the new region.

On the other hand, Hollmann, who resides in Maribo and has worked in the healthcare sector since his youth, also seeks to lead the new region to ensure that Zealand’s specific issues are represented. Although the merger was not initially on the wish list of the political leadership in the Zealand Region, Hollmann believes it is important to step forward and represent the interests of the entire new regional area.

The election for the Eastern Denmark Region is proposed to take place on November 18 next year, concurrently with the municipal elections. However, the new regional council will function as a preparatory committee until 2027, at which point it will formally take over operations from the existing regional councils. The government has also indicated that after the first election, they will evaluate the electoral process and consider necessary adjustments.