Cooperation between the Greenlandic Health Service and the regions in Denmark is being strengthened and expanded. This is being achieved through a new agreement on a staff exchange program, under which hospital departments in Denmark will, going forward, fill a number of full-time positions within the Greenlandic Health Service.
The agreement is an important part of a long-term, strategic partnership between Greenland and Denmark, with a focus on strengthening the healthcare system in Greenland. The parties are now beginning the process of identifying hospital departments in Denmark that will help expand exchange programs in areas such as emergency care, obstetrics, and psychiatry.
The rotation program is designed to support professional development in departments in both Denmark and Greenland and to help create a more stable staffing framework in the Greenlandic healthcare system, for the benefit of patients.
Anna Wangenheim, Minister for Health and People with Disabilities, says:
“I am truly pleased with the agreement that has now been reached. It ensures greater stability for patients in Greenland and, at the same time, provides better working conditions for managers and staff, as it brings greater continuity and a wider range of skills. At the same time, the rotation program facilitates the development and exchange of knowledge and experience between employees in Denmark and Greenland. This fosters a sense of community and offers new perspectives.”
In recent years, the Greenlandic healthcare system has gained a range of experiences through referral agreements with Danish regions and hospitals. These experiences show that, in several areas, the agreements have contributed positively to more coherent patient care pathways and strengthened coordination across sectors.
Employees from Denmark will work on a rotational basis in Greenland
. The specific rotation schedules under the new system are established at the initiative of the Greenlandic Health Service, which identifies and reports specific needs. A participating department in Denmark then fills the relevant position in Greenland.
This means that employees are hired on a rotating basis by the Greenlandic Health Service, where they perform the same duties. In this way, they ensure consistent staffing in Greenland for an agreed-upon period.
Healthcare personnel are paid by the Greenlandic Health Service in accordance with the applicable Greenlandic collective bargaining agreements for the position held in Greenland. In addition, the state pays a remote-area allowance.
For employees at the Danish branches, participation in the exchange program is voluntary, and participating employees return to their positions in Denmark upon completion of their assignment.
Mads Duedahl, Chairman of Danish Regions, says:
“The staff exchange program is a testament to the strong mutual trust and close cooperation between the Greenlandic Health Service and the Danish health care system. We want to help strengthen the Greenlandic Health Service, and I am very pleased that the regions’ employees will have the opportunity to contribute to development and greater continuity. Our hope is that this arrangement will make a difference for the people of Greenland.”
Lars Gaardhøj, Vice Chair of Danish Regions, says:
“We look forward to getting started with the exchange program, and I hope that we have now found a model that will make it attractive for even more Danish healthcare professionals to go to Greenland and contribute. We are building on many years of experience, but we are aware—on both the Greenlandic and Danish sides—that there will be an ongoing need to adapt the program, and this must be done through close and equal cooperation. I am pleased that we have found a model where the Greenlandic Health Service can pinpoint exactly how employees from Denmark can best help.”
Coordination through close collaboration
The practical organization of work takes place through close collaboration between the Danish and Greenlandic departments. The rotation program will include the hiring of doctors, nurses, and other professional groups, and applies to both the Dronning Ingrid Hospital in Nuuk and coastal hospitals.