How do you create one shared digital entry point to more than 3,000 general practitioners while preserving the close relationship between citizens and their own doctor?
As Danish citizens increasingly expected healthcare services to be as accessible as banking, shopping and other public services, general practice faced a growing challenge. How could digital access be expanded without disrupting clinical workflows or the trusted relationship between patients and their GP?
This question became one of the key ambitions of Denmark’s Digital Health Strategy 2018–2024, developed by the Danish Government, Danish Regions and Local Government Denmark (KL). One of the strategy’s focus areas was “The Doctor in your Pocket – a citizen-oriented app in the general practice” (My Doctor App – Min Læge). A national digital gateway designed to give every citizen secure and consistent access to their own general practitioner.
Before the My Doctor App (Min Læge), many digital services already existed. Citizens could book appointments, renew prescriptions or contact their GP electronically, but the experience varied depending on which practice they were registered with. Different systems provided different levels of digital access.
The ambition was not to replace these existing clinical systems. Instead, the goal was to create a shared digital layer that could bring them together. Citizens should have access to the same secure digital services regardless of where they lived, while GPs could continue working in the clinical systems they already relied on.
Achieving this required close collaboration across the Danish healthcare system, bringing together key public, clinical and technology partners:
Together, the partners established a common national solution designed to integrate with Denmark’s existing digital infrastructure for general practice.
The app has evolved alongside changing clinical practices, technological developments, and the needs of citizens and healthcare professionals. New services have been introduced over time, building on the shared foundation established in the first release.
Today, the My Doctor App (Min Læge) stands as an example of how a national digital health strategy can become part of everyday healthcare. It shows how public authorities, healthcare professionals and technology partners can work together to create digital services that support both citizens and clinicians while strengthening the healthcare system as a whole.
Content