# Denmark Heart Runner program expansion and management shift

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/denmark-heart-runner-program-expansion-and-management-shift
> Updated: 2026-08-21T05:00:00.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

The Danish Heart Runner program has reached a milestone with 61,540 registered volunteers, representing approximately 1.3 percent of the population over age 18. The program utilizes an app to alert the nearest volunteers to cardiac arrest incidents. Medical researchers have noted that these volunteers are critical for survival, as they arrive in an average of 3.30 minutes, whereas professional emergency services typically take eight to nine minutes.

Following this growth, Danske Regioner (Danish Regions) announced they will assume management of the Heart Runner scheme and the Defibrillator Network from TrygFonden on January 1, 2028. This transition is intended to move the programs from their initiators to the regional authorities responsible for acute medical treatment. The change is expected to have no practical impact on the existing network of volunteers or the 26,703 registered defibrillators.

## Claims

- Danish Regions will take over the operation of the Heart Runner scheme and the Defibrillator Network on January 1, 2028. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The transition will not have any practical impact on heart runners or owners of registered defibrillators. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The TrygFonden has previously been responsible for the operation and development of these schemes. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Heart runners are activated an average of 10 times every day. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- There are 26,703 defibrillators registered in the network. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Health cards in the new East Denmark Region will be replaced gradually as needed rather than all at once. (single source)
- The gradual replacement of health cards avoids a one-time cost of approximately 30.2 million DKK. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-21: Danish Regions to take over Heart Runner and Defibrillator Network

Danish Regions will assume control of the Heart Runner and Defibrillator Network from TrygFonden in 2028. Separately, East Denmark will replace health cards gradually to save 30.2 million DKK.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/danish-regions-to-take-over-heart-runner-and-defibrillator-network

### 2026-08-18: Denmark reaches record 61,540 registered heart runners

Denmark has reached a record 61,540 registered heart runners, providing rapid CPR and defibrillator assistance during cardiac arrests before professional emergency services arrive.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/denmark-reaches-record-61540-registered-heart-runners

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Cite as: Denmark Heart Runner program expansion and management shift. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/denmark-heart-runner-program-expansion-and-management-shift