One of Denmark's leading infectious disease researchers, Clinical Professor Lars Østergaard from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, has been appointed to the Danish parliamentary expert group which will analyse how the Danish authorities handled the corona crisis.

2020.08.18 | Henriette Stevnhøj

Professor Lars Østergaard, AU and AUH, takes part in the study of the Danish authorities' handling of the corona crisis. Photo: Lars Kruse, AU

How well did the healthcare service's readiness function when the corona epidemic struck in March, and was the decision to shut down Denmark the correct one? This is the basis on which an expert group appointed by the Danish Parliament will assess the Danish authorities handling of the crisis. When it comes to the health sciences, the group’s insights will be provided by Lars Østergaard, professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University and consultant at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital.

He is proud and honoured to be appointed to the parliamentary group of experts which includes experts with knowledge of law, economics and the social and health sciences:

"It's a really big pat on the back, and it shows how significant the professional knowledge which I represent is in this important work," says Lars Østergaard.

The Danish Parliament wants the experts to assess, among other things, the changing test strategies and the quality of the healthcare system's pandemic preparedness, as well as comparing the way in which Denmark dealt with the pandemic to its neighbouring countries.

Lars Østergaard is looking forward to the assessment work and is acutely aware of the importance of learning from the crisis.

"The goal is not to highlight mistakes and omissions. It's a case of learning from this period, which has had such serious consequences, so we're better prepared if Denmark is again struck by a pandemic," he says.

"I expect us to be able to contribute with constructive proposals and well-founded ideas about how we can deal with a crisis of the same magnitude in the future. For this reason, I’m also pleased that the Folketinget has emphasised in its instructions that we should not place political or legal responsibility. We must simply look to the future and find the best possible solutions," says Lars Østergaard.

He expects to be able to utilise recent experience from corona research and treatment in the coming work, both from his research colleagues in Denmark and abroad, and of course also from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital.

"Here in Aarhus we’ve got a strong team working with viral and infectious disease research, and they’ve been especially involved in corona research. As far as possible because of confidentiality requirements, I would also like to include, for example, Christian Wejse (associate professor at the Department of Public Health and specialty registrar at the Department of Infectious medicine) and Søren Riis Paludan (professor, virologist at the Department of Biomedicine)," says Lars Østergaard.

In addition to Lars Østergaard, the expert group comprises: Professor Jostein Askim, Department of Political Science, University of Oslo; Professor of Health Economics, Dorte Gyrd Hansen, University of Southern Denmark; Professor of Health Law, Helle Bødker Madsen, Aarhus University; and head of the expert group, Emeritus Professor Jørgen Grønnegård Christensen, Aarhus University. The expert group is tasked with evaluating the period from January 2020 to the gradual reopening in May.

The expert group's findings will be presented in January 2021.

Contact:

Professor, Consultant, DMSc, PhD Lars Østergaard

Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital

M: (+45) 5151 3140
lars.ostergaard@clin.au.dk