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Market access for medical technologies in Denmark

A brief overview of key market access pathways and challenges for medical devices, in-vitro diagnostic tests in Denmark

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Key topics

There are three key themes describing market access for medical technologies in Denmark: 

  • Reimbursement: payment mechanism via the DRG-adjusted budget system
  • Funding: national recommendations from the  Danish Healthcare Quality Institute 
  • Health technology assessment: obtaining recommendations from the national and local HTA bodies
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Reimbursement

Denmark uses the Danish DRG system, but hospital revenue from the DRGs accounts for only about 20%. Hospital care is predominantly funded via a global budget mechanism, which is mostly calculated based on actual costs incurred by the hospitals (differences in calculation methodology among regions may exist). 

However, all inter-regional care is reimbursed on a case-by-case basis via the DRG system. Therefore, the role of DRGs is higher for procedures that are concentrated only in several hospitals across the country and that provide care for patients from other Danish regions. 

DRGs are determined by the combination of a procedure code (SKS) and a diagnosis code (ICD-10). The SKS nomenclature and the Danish DRG system are maintained by the Health Data Authority. 

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Funding

Denmark has no nationally defined list of health benefits that are guaranteed to the Danish population. Decisions on which treatment methods to use and which new technologies to introduce are made by the hospitals.


Danish regions have a system to collaborate on the introduction of medical technologies and to enable equal access, cost-effective and efficient use of medical technologies in the country. In this framework, technologies are evaluated on the national level by the Danish Healthcare Quality Institute (before 2025, it was the Health Technology Council), which provides recommendations for the adoption of novel technologies to payers (Regions) and healthcare providers. 

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Health technology assessment

HTA is performed on the national level (as part of the evaluations by the Danish Healthcare Quality Institute) or on the regional and local levels (two organizations have limited activity in the Med Tech space). 

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Specifics for IVD tests

There is no specific reimbursement framework for in-vitro diagnostic tests. IVD tests are funded using a global budget principle as part of the laboratory funding.

MTRC has experience with more than 155 projects in Denmark

News and insights

Planned organizational changes related to the provision of specialised services in Denmark

In late August 2025, the meeting of the Board of Danish Regions was held. Among the themes for discussion was the development of the new model for managing specialized hospital services (Specialty planning) by the Danish Health Authority. The implementation of this new model is expected to start in 2026. Furthermore, the progress of the Danish Healthcare Quality Institute in carrying out its tasks was discussed, including its work on the development of clinical guidelines.

First apps recommended by the Board for Health Apps in Denmark

In June 2025, the first five health apps were rated and recommended by the Board for Health Apps in Denmark. The rated apps concern endocrine, orthopedics, neurology and neurosurgery, mental health, and primary care fields. The Board will continuously evaluate new apps; the list will be expanded as new apps are recommended.

A regular update of the Danish SKS coding system from July 2025

The Danish Health Data Authority quarterly updates the Health Care Classification System (SKS). The latest version was published in mid-June 2025 to come into force on July 1, 2025. Among other changes, seventy-eight new procedure codes were introduced concerning dermatology, endoscopy, ENT, interventional radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, spine, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

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