GP Visits (Praktiserende Laege) in Denmark

GP visits in Denmark are completely free for all residents covered by the national health insurance system. Every resident is registered with a local GP (praktiserende laege) who serves as the first point of contact for all non-emergency health concerns. Approximately 98% of the Danish population is covered under Group 1 insurance, which provides free GP visits but requires a GP referral for specialist care. Group 2 insurance allows direct specialist access but with partial reimbursement.

The Danish GP system is highly efficient, with GPs handling approximately 90% of all patient contacts in the healthcare system. Standard consultations last about 10-15 minutes, and most practices offer same-day or next-day appointments for acute conditions. GPs can also conduct telephone and video consultations, which became particularly prevalent during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Evening and weekend care is provided through medical helplines (lagevagten) and out-of-hours GP cooperatives.

Denmark has approximately 3,500 GPs serving a population of 5.9 million, giving an average patient list of about 1,600 per GP. Some areas, particularly rural regions and parts of Zealand, face GP shortages that can make it difficult for new residents to register with a practice. The government has introduced initiatives including financial incentives for GPs establishing practices in underserved areas and expanded use of practice nurses and telemedicine to improve access.