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Healthcare in Iceland

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Life expectancydevelopment in Iceland by gender

Icelandhas a state-centred, publicly fundeduniversal healthcaresystem and health insurance that covers the whole population. The number of private providers in Iceland has increased. The healthcare system is largely paid for by taxes (84%) and to some extent by service fees (16%)[1]and is administered by theMinistry of Health.A considerable portion of government spending is assigned to healthcare. There is almost no private health insurance in Iceland and no private hospitals.[2]In very limited cases (e.g. skin diseases), access to a private provider can be reimbursement for services provided that the conditions are met.[3]

Financing and funding[edit]

The healthcare system in Iceland is financed with the taxes raised by the central government. This is affected by theNordic welfare state model,in which public service is heavily funded through taxation to support the general public, in order for the population to have equal access to health care and welfare system.[4]Although local authorities have limited influence over the national health care system, Iceland has adapted to similar structures to other Nordic countries, implementing decentralized structure by dividing the country into seven local health care regions.[5]The health care regions were implemented to promote cooperations between institutions, and to provide quality care through regional provisions. However, this has not affected the financial responsibility of the central government. Although healthcare is to a great extent funded through taxation, some out-of-pocket expenses are still required, such as service fees, of which some groups are exempted, for example children, the disabled and elderly people[5][6]

As of 2018, out-of-pocket expenditure is at 16% of total healthcare expenditure, similar to levels of 2007 and 2008 but significantly lower than it was both at 2001 (19.5%) and 2021 (18.5%).[1]The general population has shown overwhelming support for universal healthcare and governmental funding. Through a research survey conducted in 2013 focused on Icelandic adults, in which 94% of the respondents want the government to spend more on public health care, and 81% of the respondents prefer and supports primary health care to be provided by the government.[7]

According to a 2017 study published inThe Lancet,the Icelandic healthcare system has the world's second bestHealthcare Access and Quality Index,a composite measure collected as a part of theGlobal Burden of Disease Study.[8]

Healthcare services[edit]

Primary care[edit]

Health centers that provide primary health care are located throughout the country, while some runs along smaller institutes and hospitals, all are funded and administered by central government.[9]In accordance with the 1973 Health Care Act, which established universal primary health care and increase the amount of health personnel and institutes in the country, all patients are required to register and access through a primary care center and a general practitioner of their choice.[10]Specialist services are provided mainly by general practitioners, privately operated or publicly funded.

Secondary care[edit]

There are a total of 6 regional hospitals and 16 health institutions throughout the country, funded through fixed global budgets. The main hospital is located in Reykjavik. Most hospital professionals and doctors are salaried employees, and are paid through hospital budgets. Doctors can also see private patients outside of the hospitals if they receive 80 percent or less.[10]

Long-term care[edit]

Long-term care can be accessed through institutions or at home. This includes personal assistance and domestic care, including nursing homes or child care. These services are provided by either private institutes or public services, and are funded through national budgets.[10]Part-time and home-based child care are payable but subsidized, priority is given to special interest groups.[11]

Medical training[edit]

Iceland does not have its own specialist medical training system, so Icelandic doctors typically spend 8 or 10 years working abroad before returning to the country. They often use the relationship established in training for ongoing support.[12]

Healthcare districts[edit]

Name (English) Name (Icelandic) Primary care Secondary and tertiary care
Capital RegionHealthcare District Heilbrigðisumdæmi höfuðborgarsvæðisins Heilsugæsla höfuðborgarsvæðisins Landspítali
Western RegionHealthcare District Heilbrigðisumdæmi Vesturlands Heilbrigðisstofnun Vesturlands
WestfjordsHealthcare District Heilbrigðisumdæmi Vestfjarða Heilbrigðisstofnun Vesturlands
Northern Healthcare District Heilbrigðisumdæmi Norðurlands Heilbrigðisstofnun Norðurlands Sjúkrahúsið á AkureyriandHeilbrigðisstofnun Norðurlands
Eastern Region Healthcare District Heilbrigðisumdæmi Austurlands Heilbrigðisstofnun Austurlands
Southern RegionHealthcare District Heilbrigðisumdæmi Suðurlands Heilbrigðisstofnun Suðurlands
Southern PeninsulaHealthcare District Heilbrigðisumdæmi Suðurnesja Heilbrigðisstofnun Suðurnesja

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Out-of-pocket expenditure (% of current health expenditure) - Iceland".World Bank. February 27, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 27,2021.
  2. ^Gunnlaugsson, Gunnar H.; Oddsdottir, M.; Magnusson, J. (2006)."Surgery in Iceland".Archives of Surgery.141(2): 199–203.doi:10.1001/archsurg.141.2.199.PMID16490899.
  3. ^"Hallituksen esitys eduskunnalle laiksi sairausvakuutuslain 2 ja 3 luvun muuttamisesta".Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö(in Finnish).Retrieved2022-12-13.
  4. ^Esping-Andersen, Gøsta (1990).The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism.Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.ISBN9780069028573.
  5. ^abYoung, Marchildon, Kue, Gregory (2012)."A Comparative Review of Circumpolar Health Systems"(PDF).The Circumpolar Health Supplements.2012(9).{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^Vilhjalmsson, Runar (2009). "Out-of-pocket health care expenditures among population groups in Iceland".Laeknabladid.
  7. ^Vilhjalmsson, Runar (2016)."Public views on the role of government in funding and delivering health services".Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.44(5): 446–454.doi:10.1177/1403494816631872.PMID26884469.S2CID206723450.
  8. ^Barber, R.M.; Fullman, N (May 18, 2017)."Healthcare Access and Quality Index based on mortality from causes amenable to personal health care in 195 countries and territories, 1990–2015: a novel analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015".The Lancet.390(10091): 231–266.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30818-8.PMC5528124.PMID28528753.
  9. ^Young, Marchildon, Kue, Gregory (2012)."A Comparative Review of Circumpolar Health Systems"(PDF).The Circumpolar Health Supplements.2012(9).{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^abcSigurgeirsdóttir, Sigurbjörg (2012)."International Profiles of Health Care Systems, 2012"(PDF).The Commonwealth Fund.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-11-14.Retrieved2016-12-03.
  11. ^Jonsson, Gudmundur (2001). "The Icelandic Welfare State in the Twentieth Century".Scandinavian Journal of History.26(3): 249–267.doi:10.1080/034687501750303873.PMID17844641.S2CID6839411.
  12. ^"Outcomes in EHCI 2015"(PDF).Health Consumer Powerhouse. 26 January 2016. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 6 June 2017.Retrieved27 January2016.

External links[edit]

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