Medication and medication reimbursement in Denmark

Medication reimbursement is a state subsidy for part of the price you pay when you buy reimbursable prescription medication. The reimbursement is calculated on the basis of your total annual costs for reimbursable medication, and is usually automatically deducted from the price at the pharmacy.

At borger.dk you can read more about this, and you can see the reimbursement thresholds and rates on the website of the Danish Medicines Agency.

As a general rule, your right to medication reimbursement depends on whether or not you are covered by the Danish health insurance system.

• If you live in Denmark and are registered in the Civil Register, you are usually covered by Danish health insurance.
• If you do not live in Denmark, but are socially insured in Denmark, you can in many cases obtain a special health card and thus be covered by Danish health insurance in the areas specified for the card.

You can read more on the Info Norden page ‘Right to healthcare services in Denmark’.

If you need to travel with medication, it is important to check whether your medication is covered by special rules (e.g. euphoriant drugs) and whether you will need documentation for it.

How do you obtain a pill passport (Schengen certificate) to take medications from Denmark to another Nordic country?

If you are travelling to a country within the Schengen area, you can obtain a Schengen certificate (also known as a “pill passport”) at the pharmacy. This certificate serves as legally valid proof that the medication has been issued by a doctor and is for personal use. It is not a requirement that you bring the certificate with you on journeys, but it can make documentation easier for you.

The Schengen countries have decided that the pill passport applies only to medicines that can be euphoriant.

How do you bring medications into Denmark from another Nordic country?

When you bring a medication to Denmark, the applicable rules will depend inter alia on whether the medication comes from the EU/EEA, and whether it is covered by special rules (e.g. euphoriant drugs).

You can read more about the relevant regulations at the website of the Danish Medicines Agency.

How do you buy prescription medication in another Nordic country with a Danish prescription?

If you have a Danish prescription you can generally use it in other EU/EEA countries, but the medication may have a different name, and may not always be available in the same form or strength. In several countries, it is a requirement that you bring the original prescription on paper.

How do you buy prescription medication at a Danish pharmacy with a prescription from another Nordic country?

If you have a prescription from another EU/EEA country, it can usually be redeemed at a Danish pharmacy if it contains the necessary information. As a general rule, the prescription must be in its original paper form, or sent by fax directly to the pharmacy from the doctor, dentist or veterinarian. Please note that prescriptions for highly euphoriant drugs cannot be dispensed.

If you buy prescription medication in another EU/EEA country, you can in some cases receive reimbursement under the Danish rules if you would have been entitled to reimbursement in Denmark. You will usually need to apply for the reimbursement afterwards.

For more information, see the website of the Danish Medicines Agency and apotek.dk.