Skip to main content

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

sdcd

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 Health Technology Council
  • Health technology assessment: obtaining recommendations from the national and local HTA bodies
dcdsz

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 DRG is higher for procedures, which are concentrated only in several hospitals across the country and which 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. 

dcdx

Funding

Denmark has no nationally defined list of health benefits which 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 Health Technology Council, which provides recommendations for the adoption of novel technologies to payers (Regions) and healthcare providers. 

dcxsxsx

Health technology assessment

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

dcvcxc

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 150 projects in Denmark

News and insights

Priorities set in the Danish Regions' budget agreements for 2025

In September 2024, it was announced by the Danish Regions that according to the budget agreements for 2025, all regions have prioritized money to strengthen the local healthcare system (primary care) and ensure a robust hospital system and a continued high level of activity.

A regular update of the Danish SKS coding system from October 2024

The Danish Health Data Authority quarterly updates the Health Care Classification System (SKS). The updated version was published in mid-September 2024 to come into force on October 1, 2024. Eight new medical procedure codes and one new code for diagnostic investigations were introduced concerning obstetrics and gynecology, extracorporeal treatments, spine, cardiovascular, e-health, diagnostic imaging, and some other fields.

Status of the healthcare structural reform in Denmark

On August 19, 2024, the Agenda for the meeting of the Board of Danish Regions was published. One of the themes to be discussed during the meeting was the Danish Regions consultation response regarding the Health Structure Commission's report. The meeting was held on August 22, 2024.

Get in touch

Contact us to discuss your needs and learn about our services