“The risk of dying before turning 75 is, for example, six times higher in Rødbyhavn on Lolland than in Gentofte, north of Copenhagen” Aarhus University researchers
A map published by Aarhus University on the risk of premature death reignited the debate on health inequality in Denmark. Unfortunately, the place you have chosen to call home can have a distorted impact on your lifespan. Check your situation here. One of the factors that can impact your lifespan is income. If you have a higher income, you can expect to live 10 years longer than someone with lower income.
One way to reduce health inequality is to provide differentiated public funding for health services. The areas with a high risk of premature death should receive extra medical support, meaning more money for doctors and health staff. A GP (general practitioner / family doctor) receives 155 DKK per consultation, regardless if it’s 10-15 minutes or one hour. The idea is to give higher amounts per consultation depending on the time spent and the area serviced.
Another way is to take inspiration from Norway and introduce a similar public health act. The Norwegian Public Health Act obliges the municipalities to create a detailed health overview of the population every other year and, based on the overview, create an action plan on how to improve the situation. In Norwegian municipalities, you can find public health coordinators whose only objective is to improve population health. Several political parties in Denmark (SF, Alternativet, Radikale Venstre, Enhedslisten) are ready to support a similar law, while DF is against the idea.
On a more positive note, the Easter break is coming, and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to treat yourself. Travel, relax, start gardening, give more attention to a forgotten hobby, meet some old friends or make new ones, and read that book that keeps waiting on your nightstand. We plan to do the same, which means that the next newsletter will be published on April 7.
For our audience in Copenhagen and surroundings, we invite you to two amazing events immediately after the break. First, on April 4, a debate in English about freedom of movement, followed by a brunch event on April 6 (free brunch; limited spots). We will continue our series of brunch events in other cities in April and May.
Thank you for reading Last Week in Denmark!
Word of the Week
Rådmand = Alderman. The political leader of a department in the larger municipalities. For example, Aalborg Municipality has six aldermen. The mayor and the aldermen are the only full-time politicians in local politics. Just like the mayor, the aldermen positions are given to elected council members via political negotiations between the parties.
