10th June 2026
10th June 2026
Monitoring of prescriptions
The Directorate of Health monitors the prescribing practices of healthcare professionals. This monitoring is based, on the one hand, on proactive reviews using the Prescriptions Medicines database. On the other hand, it involves monitoring based on reports from sources such as pharmacies, Iceland Health, the Icelandic Medicines Agency, and other healthcare professionals.
-Automatic translation
From 1 January 2024 to 31 May 2026, 64 monitoring cases concerning the prescribing practices of doctors and dentists were concluded. In some instances, more than one case involved the same individual. One case resulted in a restriction of the professional's license, 10 cases resulted in a reprimand, and 24 cases resulted in formal recommendations for improvement. No sanctions were imposed in 25 cases.
As of 1 June 2026, there were 43 ongoing monitoring cases concerning prescribing practices at the Directorate of Health.
The Directorate of Health urges the utmost caution when prescribing medicines, including addictive and habit-forming drugs such as stimulant ADHD medications, opioids, sleeping pills, and sedatives, as well as other medicines, not least those known to end up for sale on the black market. In this context, examples include Botox, Ozempic, testosterone, and erectile dysfunction medications.
More information
Kjartan Hreinn Njálsson, Assistant to the Medical Director of Health
kjartan.h.njalsson@landlaeknir.is