Collaborating to overcome future health issues today

From left, Danish Ambassador to Korea Einar Jensen, Korean Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol, Danish Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke and Korean Ambassador to Denmark Park Sang-jin pose for a photo at the MOU signing held at the Danish Ambassador's residence in Seoul on March 25. Courtesy of Embassy of Denmark in Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Denmark and Korea, like many countries worldwide, face similar challenges of a growing elderly population and an increase in mental and physical illnesses that follow aging societies. A modern lifestyle is more prone to causing chronic diseases and other healthcare challenges as well.

"We see the same demographic shift in both Denmark and Korea, which means there are fewer people in the workforce to contribute to financing the healthcare system, while the demand for healthcare services increases with an aging population. In terms of healthcare, costs are rising while resources remain limited. So Denmark and Korea are collaborating and are discussing sustainability in healthcare systems from different angles," the Embassy of Denmark in Korea's Health and Life Sciences Counsellor Nina Monrad Boel said.

The most distinctive feature of the Danish healthcare system, compared to Korea, is its strength in primary healthcare and general practice.

"In Korea, patients can access a specialist medical doctor directly. In Denmark, in most cases, you need to see a primary healthcare doctor, also known as a general practitioner (GP), first. The GP treats the issue or refers the patient to a specialist. The GP also follows up on your treatments, medication, and rehabilitation. So the GP plays a role both in terms of patient safety and sustainable healthcare, as it costs less when a patient is handled in the primary healthcare system," Boel explained.

As an aging population burdens the current healthcare system, Denmark tries to meet its needs in a smarter way.

"Part of Denmark's strategy for ensuring a sustainable healthcare sector that can continue to provide high standard healthcare delivery is decreasing the length of hospital stays. Denmark has developed 18 “Super Hospitals” by building new hospitals and upgrading existing hospitals fitted with the latest, cutting edge health technology that can ensure smarter, more centralized, and more efficient patient care," Boel said. "The Danish experience with several super hospitals fit well with Korea's Digital New Deal and the investment to develop smart hospitals. This is an area where we see great value in collaboration.”

The health ministries of Denmark and Korea first signed a cooperation agreement in 2013, and the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was recently re-signed in March. This time, the agreement expands the bilateral collaboration to include pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, fertility, and other key areas of mutual interest, while continuing to cover themes such as primary healthcare, mental health, and chronic diseases.

"The collaboration is mutually beneficial; we are learning from each other's strengths. For example, Denmark is advanced in areas such as primary healthcare and has experience with super hospitals, while Korea has a leading position within clinical trials and pandemic preparedness," Boel said.

Like many other countries, Denmark has been inspired by Korea's achievements in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Both countries are furthermore aware of the importance of addressing the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR, also called as a slow-moving, silent pandemic, is raising concerns worldwide as it threatens to nullify past developments in medicine by making infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria difficult or impossible to treat.

The Danish government launched the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS), envisaging "a world where drug-resistant infections no longer pose a threat to the health of humans and animals, the environment, global food security, and economic prosperity."

"Denmark has been focusing on AMR and the risk of resistance for a long time and we've succeeded in reducing the use of antibiotics and restricting the use of critically important antibiotics. This topic is very relevant for the primary healthcare sector, as it is crucial to limit prescriptions of antibiotics when not needed. This silent pandemic is highly prioritized by both our governments, and it is among the key areas of cooperation in the MOU re-signed in March."