Geographical Proximity and Community Health Centres: A Sustainable Solution for Denmark

The Danish healthcare system has transitioned from a decentralised municipal hospital model to a centralised structure dominated by large, specialised hospitals. While this shift has improved efficiency and healthcare quality in some respects, it has also created challenges in terms of accessibility, patient mobility, and sustainability. Community health centres represent a strategic response to these issues by decentralising essential healthcare services and reintroducing geographical proximity as a core principle of healthcare. In this article, we propose drawing on the 15-min city concept to discuss how accessibility and spatial equity should be integrated into the planning of community health centres as platforms for active living and strong communities. We argue that proximity and accessibility in healthcare can benefit from a broader view of mobility and a focus on developing active, independent mobility systems. Data from semi-structured interviews with patients and professionals at 11 community health centres and three regions empirically demonstrate this. The 15-min city concept can lead to a reduction in travel time and improve accessibility and proximity for older adults.