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January 4th, 2013

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Novo Nordisk steps up global obesity battle
Drug maker Novo Nordisk will apply for the approval of one of its diabetes medications in the hopes that it could be used in the global struggle against obesity. If approved, Victoza, already a leading diabetes drug, would earn Denmark’s most valuable listed company over 20 billion kroner and help treat the estimated 500 million people worldwide who are considered obese. Novo Nordisk will become the first pharmaceutical company to launch a global anti-obesity product and the company expects that Victoza will become an alternative to operations involving obesity. – Berlingske

Private sector to care for more elderly
Local governments are ready to outsource the personal care of the elderly this spring in a bid to give residents more options. Currently local councils decide the price of eldercare and private firms can bid for contracts. But under new regulations, councils will be allowed to gather more tasks in one package and go for the lowest bid possible from a private contractor. But the plan, which is estimated to save 132 million kroner a year, is just about saving money, according to elderly advocates with Ældresagen, who worry that the increased competition will drive down the quality of the care. – Jyllands-Posten

Student grants to take a hit
Despite a poll indicating Danes are in favour of keeping the SU student grants at their current levels, the government is preparing to make cuts to the programme, according to information obtained by Politiken newspaper. A proposal to reform SU, set to be revealed this spring, could partially or completely eliminate the possibility of taking an extra study year. Politiken’s sources also indicated the government is looking to change the rules to limit the number of new programmes a student may begin and still receive SU. The government believes that this will help limit the number of so-called ‘SU riders’, who for years jump between youth education programmes in order to extend the length of time they receive SU. SU costs the state 17 billion kroner a year and a reform is expected to save two billion kroner from that amount. – Politiken

Thousands waiting for pain-reduction help
Danes are forced to wait up to nearly three years to been seen at one of the country’s five pain treatment centres, according to new figures. In order to bring down the waiting time, 67 million kroner will be set aside over the next four years, but critics argue that the amount is not nearly enough. As of January 2, the waiting time to be seen at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen was 140 weeks. At Aalborg Hospital is was 120 weeks, Herlev Hospital, 60 weeks, Odense Hospital, 42 weeks and at Køge Hospital it was 72 weeks. Trating pain costs the state at least eight billion kroner a year, according to a 2011 report. – MetroXpress

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