[Danish influence on global health].

Health for all has been a central global goal for years. Today, sustainable development goals (SDGs), the primary health care strategy and universal health coverage are the main strategies. In recent years, the focus has shifted to global health thus indicating a need for joint focus on transnational health problems. The SDGs and global health are highlighting the need for partnerships between countries in order to share knowledge, ideas and approaches. Danish national authorities, civil society organisations and research institutions could in collaboration play a more central role in global health.

Cancer patient pathways in Denmark as a joint effort between bureaucrats, health professionals and politicians--a national Danish project.

In 2007 and 2008 Danish Cancer Patient Pathways for 32 cancer types were developed and afterwards implemented on a national scale. Often bureaucrats, health professionals and politicians look upon the health sector in different ways and work independent of each other. In Denmark, as indeed internationally, patient pathways are frequently developed solely by health professionals and the consequence may be major difficulties in implementing the pathways on a national scale. In this article we describe how national Danish Cancer Patient Pathways were developed with a consensus seeking model and the impact it has had on the health system. The model used in Denmark ensured involvement and cooperation between bureaucrats, health professionals and politicians and afterwards a successful national implementation. The Cancer Patient Pathways has significantly reduced waiting times which is thought to increase survival. This experience gives important input to the continuous challenges on how to implement evidence based medicine on a national scale and stipulates a model for this process.

[Can strategy for primary health care be revitalized 30 years after Alma-Ata?]. / Kan strategien for primaer sundhedstjeneste genoplives 30 år efter Alma-Ata?

Thirty years ago the Alma-Ata declaration on primary health care was developed. Implementation has been compounded by inadequate financing, changing disease patterns and immature health systems, and there is an ongoing discussion between selective and comprehensive primary health care supporters. Globally, child mortality for under-five-year-olds has been reduced by 50%, but there are still large regional differences. This year the WHO development report is about revitalisation of the primary health care strategy. Recognition of this strategy may be the best instrument to improve health globally.