Denmark will stop recruiting nurses from non-European countries from 1 October, according to a new government proposal aimed at setting annual quotas for authorisation applications from so-called third countries, including India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
From shortage to surplus: Denmark’s nurse workforce rebound
According to Minister for the Interior and Health (Indenrigs- og Sundhedsministeren) Sophie Løhde, the shortage of nurses in Denmark is over. “There is no longer a need for them in Denmark. In particular, more nurses have been hired in hospitals, and the situation in the healthcare system is better than a few years ago,” she said.
The proposed legislation, presented by the Danish government, will limit the number of authorisations granted each year to healthcare workers from outside the EU. The measure comes after years of targeted recruitment from countries such as India and the Philippines, which has faced criticism because those countries also suffer from domestic shortages of qualified nurses.
Ethical debate over recruiting from nurse-scarce countries
The recruitment of healthcare personnel from countries with their own staffing shortages has been controversial. In recent years, Denmark, like other European countries, has relied on third-country workers to fill critical gaps in hospitals and care facilities. Critics argue that this practice exacerbates healthcare challenges in the source countries.
According to figures cited by Berlingske, between last year and May this year, 7,310 applications for authorisation from third-country healthcare professionals were submitted to Danish authorities.
New quota system signals a turning point in Danish healthcare
The end of active recruitment from outside Europe reflects a significant change in Denmark’s healthcare workforce policy. The government states that higher staffing levels and improved working conditions in recent years have reduced the need for foreign recruitment.
If approved by parliament, the new quota system will take effect on 1 October, marking a turning point in how Denmark manages international recruitment in the health sector.
