Information about the Icelandic Health Care System

The Ministry of Health is responsible for the overall administration of health affairs and matters relating to health insurance.The health sector is regulated according to the Health Service Act of 2007 by which all inhabitants have right of access to the best possible health service at any given time for the protection of their mental, social and physical health. The main objectve of the Act on the Rights of Patients of 1997 is to ensure that there is no dicrimination against patients on grounds of gender, religion, beliefs, nationality, race, skin color, financial status, family relation or status in other respect.

The health service in Iceland is primarily financed by central government. Financing is mainly based on taxes or 85% and 15% is fee for service.

The country is divided into health care regions, each with their own primary health care centres, some of which are run jointly with the local community hospital. The primary health care centers have the responsibility for general treatment and care, examination, home nursing as well as preventive measures such as family planning, maternity care and child health care and school health care.

Hospitals in Iceland may be ranked as specialized teaching hospitals, general hospitals and community hospitals. Hospitalization is free of charge. The specialized hospitals perform most operations and procedures in all specialist medical fields. The health service is staffed by trained and qualified professional groups.

Life expectancy in Iceland (2003) is among the highest in the world. Average life expectancy at birth for females is 82,5 years and for males 78,7 years. Infant mortality is among the lowest in the world, 2,4 per 1000 live births.