01
That in Iceland, free healthcare services will be run by citizens' tax money.
Healthcare
Policy accepted January 21, 2018
02
To oppose all marketization in healthcare services and restore balance to the service based on needs analysis.
03
That systematic work will be done to strengthen primary healthcare.
04
User-controlled personal assistance (NPA) will be used in a targeted manner in services for disabled people.
05
That work will be carried out according to long-term goals in healthcare and funding for healthcare and the operation of Landspítali Háskólasjúkrahús will be in line with the requirements for modernized healthcare.
06
That prevention and public health be strengthened and that the state be encouraged to provide that service.
07
That the psychiatric department of Landsspítali Háskólasjúkrahúss, as well as Barna- og unglingageðdeild, be strengthened and can provide normal emergency services.
08
That the elderly are guaranteed appropriate services, whether through home nursing, a place in a nursing home, or a medical institution.
09
To improve the work environment of healthcare professionals and strengthen teamwork.
10
That the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities be adopted.
11
That the United Nations report on mental health (June 2017) be respected.
12
That drug costs will be fully subsidized and a public pharmacy established, with strong quality control and the best medicines available.
13
That a patient ombudsman's office be established.
14
That rehabilitation is always available for the chronically ill, who want to improve their health and living conditions.
15
That healthcare and hospital services in rural areas be strengthened, and that the hospital beds, equipment, and facilities available there be utilized to the fullest extent possible, and that telemedicine be enhanced.
16
That the foundation of welfare and health is also ensured by other necessary environmental factors such as a fair and good housing system, an education system, an economy and wage policy, as well as a social security system.
Additional content
Healthcare services cover all aspects of health: physical, emotional, and mental. This includes dentistry and orthodontics, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, as well as speech therapy services, alcohol and drug addiction treatments, in addition to counseling and support for people who have experienced violence and other traumas.
Primary healthcare shall be strengthened, and healthcare professionals shall approach treatments holistically, considering social and environmental factors. Additionally, primary healthcare centers shall offer the services of professionals who manage rights issues and assist people in asserting their rights and guiding them within the healthcare and social security system.
Alongside Iceland setting long-term goals, extending beyond a single electoral term, needs analysis, quality assessment, and competitiveness with other countries shall be addressed. Oversight shall be in the hands of an independent body, not the Directorate of Health.
Mental health services need to be strengthened within hospitals and primary healthcare, as well as emergency resources for children and adolescents with mental health issues. Research shows that the earlier developmental disorders or mental disorders are addressed, the greater the likelihood of preventing more severe consequences later. Schools at all educational levels shall have access to mental health professionals through primary healthcare.
Restrictions need to be placed on state funding for private entities, and it should be investigated whether Sjúkratryggingar Íslands (Icelandic Health Insurance) will be re-merged with Tryggingastofnun ríkisins (Social Insurance Administration) or a new, well-functioning system created. Funding allocations must be guided by needs analyses and prioritization at any given time, and quality control must ensure that funds do not flow from the state treasury to the private sector without cause. Healthcare services shall not be operated for profit, and balance shall be achieved within the service to prevent opportunities for over-treatment, blockages, or long waiting lists.
Public interest pharmaceutical trade will aim to purchase medicines at the most favorable terms, e.g., through joint drug procurement with neighboring countries, and offer the best available medicines in line with what happens in the countries around us. Furthermore, the cost of vitamins and nutritional drinks will also be subsidized where applicable.
Prevention and public health shall always be at the forefront, and a policy shall be used that thoroughly defines the role of each party involved in matters at any given time. This way, duplication of effort within the system can be prevented.
It shall be possible to approach the Patient Ombudsman with issues concerning dead ends within the system or when an individual believes their rights have been violated in some way. The Patient Ombudsman shall have directive authority.
Rehabilitation services within healthcare shall be strengthened. Chronically ill individuals should always have easy access to rehabilitation to prevent the deterioration of their health, regardless of whether they aim to enter the labor market or not.
Rehabilitation institutions operated privately or by non-profit organizations shall be subject to proper and well-executed oversight.
Elderly citizens shall enjoy their later years with dignity and receive the services they need without being penalized for family members caring for them. In this light, the number of public nursing and retirement homes needs to be increased, and home care services strengthened.
An improved working environment within healthcare services will, among other things, prevent nursing staff, whether in hospitals or home care, from having to take an excessive number of shifts to maintain decent wages.
Robust outpatient clinics shall be developed within Landspítali (National University Hospital) with the goal of not hiring doctors for part-time positions but rather ensuring that their expertise and knowledge are utilized optimally, both for teaching within the University Hospital and for the benefit of patients.
Funding for healthcare services in rural areas shall reflect the number of people needing care there, including tourists and people in holiday homes. Ambulance services shall be reviewed in conjunction with the construction of the new Landspítali (National University Hospital).