Denmark will launch its largest-ever specialist medical training programme from 2025 to address a critical nationwide shortage of doctors, Euractiv reports.
Under the newly approved 2026-2030 capacity plan, up to 1,270 doctors will commence specialist training next year, the highest annual intake in Danish history. Interior and Health Minister Sophie Løhde declared:
In the coming years, we will be training a record number of specialised doctors, and this will contribute to better doctor coverage across the country and a better balance between the number of doctors and patients’ treatment needs.
The urgency stems from a current deficit of 2,000 specialists across hospitals, general practices, and specialised clinics. “This is a huge number when you consider that there are only around 17,500 specialists working in Denmark today,” stated Association President Camilla Rathcke.
She highlighted psychiatry, particularly child and adolescent services, as the most severely affected sectors.
Demographic pressures compound the crisis, with Denmark’s ageing population and rising chronic disease burden projected to require 30,000 specialists by 2050. The healthcare reform further amplifies demand by prioritising faster specialist access and decentralised care closer to patients’ homes.
The plan allocates 100 additional specialist training positions annually compared to 2023 levels, with significant focus on general practice, regional distribution, and specialty coverage. While welcoming the expansion, Rathcke emphasised the need for deeper specialty-specific analysis.
It’s no secret that we have been asking for a real analysis of the demand for several years and are still asking for one that compares the increasing need for treatment and the number of specialists in each of the specialities. We still need to do that, but this dimensioning plan is a good step on the way.
The initiative represents Denmark’s most concerted effort to future-proof its healthcare workforce, balancing immediate shortages against long-term demographic challenges while advancing equitable access nationwide.
