New medical programme in Region Zealand gets green light to move forward

2024 marks the beginning of the new medical programme in Region Zealand with the enrollment of the first cohort of 110 students. The following year another 110 will enroll, and in 2030, there will be more than 600 students enrolled.

This is now a confirmed certainty, as the Minister of Education and Research has, through a so-called pre-qualification, approved the University of Copenhagen's plans in cooperation with Region Zealand to duplicate the current medical programme at Panum in Copenhagen.

"The pre-qualification approval has paved the way for the realization of the medical programme in Region Zealand. Now we have one more medical programme at KU, and it is time to deliver. Fortunately, we have a clear and well-defined plan to accomplish that," says Jørgen Kurtzhals, Vice Dean for Education at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, adding:

"Naturally, we anticipated receiving the pre-qualification, as there is significant political support for this initiative, and it will help address a regional challenge that we take pride in tackling jointly.”

The new medical education builds on the University of Copenhagen's graduate track in Region Zealand. Since 2019, master's students have had the option to undertake a portion of their education in Region Zealand, with teaching and clinical rotations conducted at various hospitals, such as Slagelse, Holbæk, Nykøbing Falster, and Køge.

Progress towards Improved healthcare access in Region Zealand

Regional Council Chairman for Region Zealand Heino Knudsen sees the expansion of medical education in Region Zealand as a central part of the region's efforts to ensure high-quality healthcare services for citizens.

"Future doctors can already choose to pursue a part of their training in our region. Several trainee doctors who have chosen this option have expressed satisfaction with their decision. The expansion of medical education in Region Zealand is of utmost importance in our efforts to establish comprehensive healthcare education in our region. It represents a significant stride in our commitment towards improving healthcare access and coverage in the area. Our aim is to educate doctors equipped to tackle the challenges faced by the citizens of our region", says Heino Knudsen.

Region Zealand is the region with the fewest doctors per capita.

"It is imperative that our citizens have equitable access to doctors and healthcare services compared to other parts of the country. That is why we are working hard to get more doctors to settle in the entire region. The fact that we can train the doctors ourselves is an important milestone in that effort," he says.

Establishing a complete medical education programme in Region Zealand is a key component of the comprehensive political agreement aimed at enhancing educational opportunities across Denmark. The agreement included DKK 10.1 million for establishment and DKK 4 million annually for operation.

"A medical education in Region Zealand is a huge milestone. It is gratifying to see this become a reality after all the hard work we have put into it. Our ambition remains that the Danish Parliament will set aside greater financial latitude so that more parts of the training also can take place in Region Zealand, so that the future doctors will have their entire training rooted in the region. What we are doing now and our vision of even more education in the region is important for our work with more equality in the healthcare system and a better-balanced Denmark," says Heino Knudsen.

The small education in the big one

Torben Lykke Sørensen, who is Head of Studies at the medical programme at the University of Copenhagen, has been involved since the beginning of the establishment of the new medical programme and was also involved in establishing the Region Zealand track from 2019.

"In terms of quality, the new medical education in Region Zealand is the same as the one we already have," he says and adds:

"In Region Zealand, there is the opportunity to enroll in the big quality programme in a smaller environment, with the advantages that come with it. It can, for example, be a closer local environment where the students know each other and the teachers. It provides advantages when it comes to well-being and a safe learning environment. Moreover, students will experience more continuity in their education, as they will work with the same team and at the same hospital throughout their training.”

Contact

Vice Dean for Education Jørgen Kurtzhals
joku@sund.ku.dk
+45 26 29 00 39