Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute over stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.

Health services in Greenland

Greenland has a population of about 56000, and it is geographically similar in size to Europe. Its capital, Nuuk, is on the west side of the island at about latitude 64 North, and it has about 14000 residents.

Today, the primary healthcare sector consists of 16 health districts, managed by the Coastal Services.

The secondary and tertiary sectors come under the national hospital, Queen Ingrid’s Hospital (Dronning Ingrids Hospital). The health sector also includes the Centre for Health Education, where nurses and nursing assistants are educated.

The Department of Health (Direktoratet for Sundhed) has the overall responsibility for the health services and carrying out the departmental functions and duties.

For the somatic and psychiatric sectors together, the health services have a total budget of 0.9 billion Danish kroner, of which some 10% is spent on patient-travel, and some 10% on patient-treatment abroad.

A proposal for changes in the organisation of the health services has been issued by the Director of the Health Services. This was prompted by a decision to merge local government into a total of four areas. The proposal is mainly, but not solely, aimed at the primary health sector, which would be changed from 16 to 5 districts. The geography of the new districts would follow the new local government areas, except in one area, which will contain two health districts.

For more information about Greenland visit these links:

World Fact Book

Greenland Tourism

Go 2 Greenland

Greenland Guide Index