Minister of Health Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson presented a bill to the government on the establishment of a new health insurance institution at the National Hospital’s general meeting yesterday, which he claims will be beneficial for the health care system.
The main benefits, the minister explained, is that there will be more consistency between the funding granted by the institution to the hospitals and the extent of their operations, Morgunbladid reports.
Also, Thórdarson said there will be more transparency of the hospitals’ operations, which serves as an encouragement for them to increase their efficiency levels, as well as a higher level of flexibility to help the hospital have a more purposeful mode of operation.
The purpose of the new health insurance institution is to create a funding system that contributes to trust between buyers and sellers within the healthcare service. Thus, a more diverse mode of operation will be established, funding will be more systematic and the monetary management of healthcare institutions will be improved.
The new health insurance institution will report to the Ministry of Health and according to schedule, it will commence operations on September 1, 2008.
