The Faroese National Hospital is considering increasing the number of Faroese patients being treated in Iceland. So far this year, more than 20 Faroese citizens have been treated for cancer at Iceland’s Landspítali National Hospital.
A delegation from the Faroese National Hospital (Landssjúkrahúsid) met with representatives of Icelandic health authorities at Landspítali on Monday and were given a tour of the hospital, Morgunbladid reports.
If the two countries decide to cooperate more extensively on healthcare, a few hundred Faroese patients could come to Iceland every year and receive treatment for various diseases.
“It is not clear whether we will have to decrease the number of staff because of the difficulties currently faced by the Icelandic nation, but if we were forced to take such measures, this [arrangement] could help prevent them,” said Landspítali’s director of medicine Björn Zoëga.
Zoëga said Greenlandic authorities are also looking into further cooperation in healthcare, increasing the annual number of patients being treated at Landspítali from 40 to 80. “They are satisfied with being treated as equals here and with the service they receive.”
According to Zoëga, Landspítali will not struggle with treating an increased number of patients. “Waiting lists have almost been eliminated and it’s an exception if people have to lie in the hallways.”
“We’re [eager to use] the knowledge that we have here in this country. It is a type of innovation,” Zoëga concluded.
Click here to read about upcoming rationalization measures at Iceland’s Ministry of Health.
