Danes improve treatment of life-threatening illnesses
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Denmark is to alter is regulations on the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening illnesses as a result of discussions between the organisation of local councils (Amtsradsforeningen) and the government. Regulations which previously ensured that patients suffering from heart disease or breast, intestinal, lung or cervical cancer received priority treatment will, from September 1, be extended to include all cancer patients. The new measures mean that patients judged to be at risk will have to wait no more than two weeks for a preliminary examination, two weeks for treatment and four weeks for follow-up care. The regulations also allow for patients to be treated in other Danish counties or even broad, if their regional hospitals are either full or cannot provide the necessary facilities.