Time window: Under 72 hours. Ideally under 24. Every hour matters. Cost: Free.

For the full clinical context — what PEP is, how it works, the 28-day course, and who it's appropriate for — see PEP: The Emergency Protocol first.

Where to Go

If You're in the Capital Region (Copenhagen / Frederiksberg / Bornholm)

Call 1813 first. The Capital Region's 24/7 medical helpline (1813) coordinates emergency care in the region. When you call, tell them clearly:

"Jeg har haft en risikosituation for HIV og har brug for PEP." (I have had a high-risk exposure to HIV and need PEP.)

They will direct you to the appropriate hospital. Do not show up at an A&E in the Capital Region without calling 1813 first — the helpline triage system is how the region manages ER attendance, and it will get you to the right place faster.

The hospitals they will likely direct you to:

  • Hvidovre Hospital — Kettegård Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre. The primary infectious disease centre for the Capital Region and the preferred destination for HIV-related emergencies.
  • Bispebjerg Hospital — Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 Copenhagen NV. Also an option, particularly if you're in the north of the city.

If You're Outside the Capital Region

Go directly to the Akutmodtagelse (emergency department) at the nearest large hospital. Outside the Capital Region, you do not need to call a central helpline first — go directly.

Key hospitals by region:

  • Aarhus: Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N
  • Odense: Odense University Hospital (OUH), J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000 Odense C
  • Aalborg: Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9000 Aalborg
  • Elsewhere: Any regional hospital (Sygehus) with an emergency department. All major hospitals have access to HIV medication.

What to Say

At triage, be clear and specific:

"Jeg har haft en høj-risiko seksuel eksponering for HIV inden for de sidste [X] timer og har brug for post-eksponeringsprofylakse."

In English if needed (Danish hospital staff speak English): "I've had a high-risk sexual exposure to HIV within the last [X] hours and I need post-exposure prophylaxis."

Give clinical context: whether your partner was HIV-positive or unknown status, and the nature of the exposure (receptive anal sex without a condom is the highest-risk route). Being specific helps establish clinical urgency and speeds the response.

The Process

Starter pack: The hospital will typically provide a 5–7 day starter pack of PEP medication to begin immediately.

Follow-up: You must book a follow-up appointment with the Infectious Disease Department (Infektionsmedicinsk Afdeling) — preferably at Hvidovre Hospital in Copenhagen, or your nearest regional infectious disease centre — before the starter pack runs out. The follow-up appointment provides the remaining medication to complete the full 28-day course.

Do not assume the emergency department will provide the complete 28-day supply. Confirm before leaving whether follow-up is needed and get the contact details for booking.

Keep your discharge paperwork. The documentation from A&E should be brought to your follow-up appointment.

Cost

PEP is free for people with a Danish CPR number and Sundhedskort. Emergency care will be provided regardless of registration status, but:

  • EU/EEA visitors with EHIC card: Emergency care is covered at no charge.
  • Non-EU visitors: Emergency care will be provided. You may receive a bill afterward — sort that out later. The virus doesn't wait for administrative resolution.
  • Without CPR: You will still be seen. Do not let uncertainty about costs or paperwork delay you seeking care.

After PEP: Consider PrEP

If you find yourself needing PEP more than once, or you're regularly having condomless sex with partners of unknown or positive status, PEP is the wrong prevention tool. PrEP is designed for exactly this situation — taken before exposure, more effective at population scale, and free in Denmark.

See PrEP in Denmark: The Hospital Route for how to get started.

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