Status and Perspectives on Geriatric Medicine in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark: A Cross-National Comparative Analysis of Educational Needs and System Development - a sub-analysis of PROGRAMMING – COST ACTION 21122 ​

As people live longer, the way societies care for them must change. This is the central challenge facing the Nordic nations of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. These countries share similar welfare systems and face comparable demographic shifts, with a growing number of older adults requiring complex medical attention. The field dedicated to this care is geriatric medicine, which focuses on the unique health needs of the elderly, particularly those dealing with multiple chronic conditions and physical weakness. While the goal of keeping older people healthy and independent is universal, the path to achieving it varies. The question researchers ask is not just whether these nations are aging, but how their medical systems and training programs are adapting to meet the specific demands of an older population.

To answer this, a team of researchers conducted a detailed comparison of how geriatric medicine has evolved in these four countries over the last ten years. They gathered information from national reports, policy documents, and a survey designed to assess educational needs across the region. Their work reveals that despite living in neighboring countries with similar social structures, the approaches to training doctors and organizing care differ significantly. In Norway, Finland, and Denmark, there is a clear, coordinated effort to plan the workforce and build capacity, ensuring enough specialists are available. Norway, in particular, stands out for having the highest number of doctors participating in a specific two-year leadership and academic training program for geriatric medicine. This program helps physicians develop the advanced skills needed to manage the complex care older patients often require.

The study also highlights how these doctors are integrated into the broader healthcare system. In Finland, many geriatric specialists work directly in primary care and community services, bringing their expertise closer to where people live. This reflects a model focused on community-based support. In contrast, the organization of hospital services in Sweden shows marked differences depending on the region, with no single uniform structure across the country. Across all four nations, the researchers identified persistent hurdles. Doctors and administrators reported a sense that there are not enough specialists, a feeling that geriatrics lacks prestige compared to other medical fields, and a fragmentation in how care is delivered from one stage to the next.

When asked what they need to improve, the respondents pointed toward specific educational support. They expressed a strong desire for training that helps them manage frailty and the combination of multiple illnesses that often occur together in older age. Rather than abstract lectures, the professionals preferred learning through real-world cases and integrated clinical experiences. The findings suggest that the future of geriatric medicine in the Nordic region depends on how well these nations can align their workforce planning, invest in education, and weave geriatric services seamlessly into their existing healthcare structures. The path forward is not a single solution but a collection of distinct strategies that must be refined to ensure that an aging population receives the high-quality, coordinated care it deserves.