OECD: The Danish hospital system is one of the world's most efficient

The Danish hospitals are among the most efficient in the world. That is the surprising conclusion of a new OECD report that places Denmark in front of countries like USA, Sweden, Norway and France. 

Based on an comparison of 7 different treatments, e.g. pneumonia and bypass-surgery, a new OECD report surprisingly states that countries like Norway can save more than 30% in comparison to more cost-efficient countries like Denmark.

- Subjected to conditions you always might take into consideration, this report confirms our general perception that we operate our hospital system economically reasonable, says Kjeld Møller Petersen, professor in Health Economics, Odense University. 

He pinpoints the fact that the Danish hospital system due to the political influence has been under pressure to lower their expenses by faster and more efficient patient treatments.

Still more treatments are performed on an outpatient basis i.e., the patient is sent home the same day they get treatment in stead of spending the night in the hospital. That is why the average length of stay at a Danish hospital is among the shortest in the western world.

Read more or download the report here.

Source: www.business.dk, 30.07.2007