Hospitals in Denmark’s Capital Region are hiring fewer medical specialists following a new hiring cap designed to create a fairer distribution of doctors across Eastern Denmark. The number of specialist roles has fallen by 18 since May 2025, and hospitals are now just 34 positions away from meeting the official cap.
Specialist Hiring Freeze Yielding Results
The Capital Region of Denmark has begun experiencing the effects of a qualified hiring freeze for medical specialists that took effect in June 2025. The initiative comes as part of a national healthcare reform aimed at redistributing medical expertise more evenly between urban and rural areas. New data shows a slight but steady decline in the number of employed specialists, signaling progress toward meeting the government’s mandated cap.
As of October 2025, hospitals under the restriction reported 3,204 employed specialists. This brings the region within 34 positions of the established limit, which is currently set at 3,170 under a framework developed by the Danish government and the country’s regional councils.
Even Distribution Across Eastern Denmark
One of the objectives of the hiring cap is to reduce the concentration of medical professionals at major hospitals in Copenhagen and encourage them to seek positions at facilities in smaller towns that often face recruitment difficulties.
The hiring restriction applies to the majority of somatic hospitals in the Capital Region. These include prominent institutions like Rigshospitalet, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, and Amager and Hvidovre Hospital. Notably, Bornholms Hospital and psychiatric facilities are temporarily exempt from this rule, with psychiatry services receiving a grace period until January 1, 2026.
Evaluations of the policy’s impact are scheduled for early 2026 to determine whether the cap should be maintained or adjusted.
Decrease in Uncategorized Medical Positions
At the same time, the number of doctors employed in “unclassified” roles – positions not affiliated with any formal medical training program – has also dropped. Since May, 33 of these roles have been eliminated even though they are not directly included under the specialist cap.
Despite the lack of formal restrictions on these positions, political leaders in the region have opted to avoid growing their numbers, believing that unchecked hiring in unregulated roles may undermine the broader goal of systemic balance.
Leadership and Oversight
Regional executives have affirmed their commitment to managing the policy vigilantly. Both hospital management teams and central administrators are keeping a close watch on staffing levels to ensure compliance.
To optimize medical resources, the region is also promoting efficiency measures such as reducing unnecessary follow-up appointments and increasing the use of video consultations. These strategies aim to make better use of current staff while adapting to the hiring restrictions.
The Capital Region has built its monitoring system by collecting daily staff data from its internal payroll systems. This not only supports real-time oversight but also enhances transparency across the affected healthcare institutions.
National-Level Policy Support
The hiring cap was stipulated as part of a May 2025 national agreement involving the Danish government and Danish Regions, the overarching organization representing county governments. The policy aims to redirect workforce flows to hospitals that have historically struggled with staffing due to geographic location or other challenges.
Hospitals Covered by the Hiring Cap
Facilities affected by the hiring freeze include:
- Rigshospitalet
- Amager and Hvidovre Hospital
- Herlev and Gentofte Hospital
- Nordsjællands Hospital
- Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
Bornholms Hospital remains outside the scope of the freeze, and psychiatric services will remain exempt until January 2026.
Outlook for 2026 and Beyond
With just 34 more positions to cut or redistribute, the Capital Region is approaching full compliance with the new guidelines. As the formal review process kicks off in the first months of 2026, hospital leaders and policymakers will determine the future course of the initiative, balancing patient care, geographic equality, and resource allocation across Eastern Denmark.
The region remains focused on achieving healthcare fairness throughout the country, emphasizing that a more even allocation of medical professionals is crucial for the success of the broader national reform.
