Agreement expands treatment in patients’ homes

The Danish government, Danish Regions and Local Government Denmark have agreed to expand home treatment, with 200 million kroner set aside for the effort, DR reports.

The plan focuses on four areas: providing more intravenous medication at home, carrying out more diagnostic work in patients’ homes, assessing and expanding home treatment for older and vulnerable people, and making assisted dialysis available to patients across the country from 2028.

Health Minister Ida Auken said the agreement would bring healthcare closer to people who need it. Danish Regions chair Mads Duedahl said receiving treatment at home could make a significant difference and give many people more freedom.

The agreement is part of efforts to shift healthcare closer to people’s everyday lives and homes, a goal of the health reform adopted in November 2024. Herning Mayor Dorte West, who chairs Local Government Denmark’s health and elderly care committee, said expanding home treatment for older and vulnerable people would require close cooperation between regional emergency nursing and municipal nursing services.

Regions will take over responsibility for emergency nursing at the turn of the year. Municipalities have previously been responsible for operating the service.

The agreement also calls for prehabilitation to be offered nationwide from 2027. People awaiting major surgery, such as a hip replacement due to osteoarthritis, will be offered training and patient education beforehand to help prepare them physically for the operation.