Danish Medical Society

At first the Danish doctor’s society was founded in 1772 in Copenhagen. That was a scientific society, originally called the Royal Society of Medicine, which is now active under the name of the Copenhagen Medical Society. Outside of Copenhagen, the district medical associations first started to be established in the 1840s. The Danish Medical Society was set up on 1 September 1857. The first Danish hospital law dates back to 1806, but the doctors were not satisfied with the official attempt in the field of a health system. The establishment of Danish medical society was based on the existence of less number of hospitals, low quality of the hospitals which did exist, the need for health care to come within the scope of the local authorities in order to support the efforts of the medical profession, the reformation of medical legislation, and the involvement of the healthcare profession in the development of these matters. Almost all doctors got right to practice in Denmark are members of the society as well as one of the three craft organization subdivisions. The task of the division - each within its own area of concern is to look after the members' professional and financial interests. The specific objectives of the society, as stated in its statutes, are to unite Danish doctors in order to protect the importance of the medical profession, and to serve as the body through which the influence of doctors may be exercised on general social issues. Thus, while society is on the one hand a lobby group for Danish doctors, it is also known by the Parliament, the Ministries and the private sector as an organization which in many fields works as an expert and advisory body for the authorities in medical questions. A number of Danish health laws explicitly name Danish Medical Society as an advisory body to official committees and working parties, and society’s opinion is heard in relation with deliberations in official committees on questions concerning prevention and proper treatment of diseases and related matters with regards to suggestions from the administration of legislation on these matters.