FAQ about Danish heath data

Frequently asked questions

• Why is Danish health data unique?

  Denmark has some of the world’s most comprehensive health data covering many areas of health over a long period of time. All data is linkable due to Denmark’s national unique civil registration system. This makes it possible to use Danish health data to create new knowledge and insights.

• Why does Denmark have data across generations from the Danish population?

  In Denmark, there has been a long tradition (back to the 1970s) of collecting data in the healthcare system covering the whole population.

• Will the Danish society benefit from research done by external or foreign actors?

  Yes, healthcare challenges are often global and researchers often collaborate across borders to find causes for disease and develop new treatments.

• What does the Danish population think about the use of health data?

  In general, there is high willingness of citizens to share their health data for research if it is done in a secure manner and with the right privacy measures.

• Who can access Danish health data?

  Both public and private researchers and companies can access Danish health data if they meet the necessary criteria. All foreign researchers and companies have to collaborate with a Danish institution that can assume data responsibility in order to get access to the Danish health data. 

• How long does it take to access Danish health data?

  It can vary and depends on for example what data you want to access. To find out more about expected case processing times, you can contact the Guidance Function.

  Contact the Guidance Function

• Is it possible to transfer Danish health data abroad?

  In general, the Danish health data does not leave the country due to privacy and security procedures.

• Who can I contact, if I have questions about law, ethics, concrete cases etc.?

  You can contact the Guidance Function:

  Contact the Guidance Function

  Find an overview of data authorities

• Are the Danish health data for sale to the industry?

  No, data is not for sale. Access to data is can be obtained through application, if the relevant criteria are met. There is usually a fee for service model for accessing data, that covers time spend for case handling of application, data extraction and use of data analysis infrastructures.

• Why do we promote Danish health data?

  The richness of Danish health data makes it a reservoir of potential new knowledge and insights on health. More and better use of Danish health data - in secure ways - will contribute to new discoveries and improvements in healthcare that will benefit future patients.

• What mandate do we have to promote Danish health data?

  The Danish national government strategy for life science 2021 prioritises promoting Danish health data internationally. Videos and slides about Danish health data on this website is part of this priority and is developed by the Danish Health Data Authority and Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  Life Science Strategy (PDF) (in Danish)