Greenland needs nearly 900 Danish doctors and nurses annually

Greenland requires up to 867 doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff from Denmark each year to address its severe personnel shortage, according to a report by DR.

The Greenlandic Health Service states that the most critical shortages are in intensive care nurses, psychiatrists, and obstetricians. To maintain 100 full-time positions, each staff member would need to serve at least six weeks in Greenland, necessitating the high annual rotation.

A new “relay scheme” aims to link Danish hospital departments directly with Greenlandic ones, replacing expensive temporary staff with voluntary rotations. The scheme, set to begin this autumn, depends on Danish departments and personnel opting in.

Kjeld Møller Pedersen, emeritus professor and chair of Greenland’s independent Health Council, calls the target “wishful thinking,” noting that participation is voluntary. Pierre Vassard, financial director of the Greenlandic Health Service, believes the scheme could succeed but may take years.

The shortage has already forced the closure of two of Greenland’s five birthing centers, leaving only Nuuk, Tasilaq, and Ilulissat operational. Around 50 expectant mothers annually must now relocate to Nuuk three weeks before their due date.

Healthcare is Greenland’s largest expense, costing approximately 1.8 billion DKK yearly, with 74 staffed facilities across the territory.