Almost the entire Danish population is registered with a GP for primary health care, which is tax-financed and free at the point of use. GPs are private entrepreneurs regulated through collective agreements between the Danish regions and the organisation of GPs. 5 Patients need referrals from their GPs to consult hospital specialists and to access municipal educational self-care support. Consequently, GPs in Denmark act as gatekeepers to other health services and play a key role in chronic care, which is organised through disease management programmes (DMPs). |