Digital health
Centralised medication record, a better overview for increased safety
18th May 2026
The implementation of a centralised medication record is well underway across the country. Over 95% of healthcare institutions and private service providers are now using the centralised medication record, and the aim is to complete the implementation this year.
Essentially, the centralised medication record is a collection of information about medicines, medication history and dispensing history of users, along with data from the Icelandic Medicines Agency and Icelandic Health Insurance. This allows healthcare professionals to see the same information in one place, whether a patient seeks care at a primary healthcare centre, a hospital or, for example, a private medical practice.
Increased safety is the biggest benefit. When all staff have access to the same information, a clear overall picture of each patient's situation regarding medicines in general and their prescriptions is formed. This can, for example, prevent misunderstandings, human error, duplicate prescriptions or misuse of medicines. The centralised medication record thus provides a simpler overview, safer treatment and better support for clinical decisions.
A great step forward
“This is a great step forward. The fact that information about an individual's medication use can be transferred securely and without hindrance between service providers means greatly increased safety for patients. Everyone involved in the patient's care will have the same information and an overview of their medication history, and soon they will also be able to share information with each other about the patient's medication treatment, such as side effects and interactions. This is an incredibly important matter of safety and quality,” says Alma D. Möller, Minister of Health.
The next milestone on this journey is to implement the centralised medication record in the country's pharmacies. This will be a revolution for pharmacists, who will then have the same overview as doctors, and the centralised medication record will thus be an important tool to further reduce the prescription and dispensing of medicines that can cause addiction.
Work will also begin on integrating the medication administration systems of Landspítali University Hospital and Akureyri Hospital so that certain information can be transferred between the centralised medication record and the medication administration system, which improves safety and ensures continuity of service.
In addition, a messaging function between pharmacists and doctors is being developed, as are links to health information so that important information from the medication record follows the patient between countries, and access for innovative companies to the underlying systems is being increased so that new and exciting functionality can be built on top of their technological solutions within the medication record.
The centralised medication record is part of a larger journey to make health information accessible in the right place, at the right time, to the right people. Once the foundation is in place, opportunities will open up for further connections, better service and new solutions that increase both safety and efficiency.