A working group tasked by the Minister of Health with formulating a policy on remote healthcare services has submitted its report with its proposals. The vision for the future is that users of healthcare services in Iceland will have secure, efficient and user-friendly accessibility to remote healthcare services that are integrated with traditional services, support people's health and independence, and utilise technology in an accountable manner.

“There is a great deal of momentum in the development and implementation of new solutions in this field and great opportunities for the future. When developing remote healthcare services, care must be taken to ensure that quality and safety are guaranteed. This requires a clear policy, which is particularly important for the activities of Digital Health,” says Alma D. Möller, Minister of Health.

It is envisaged that remote healthcare services will be subject to the same rules and requirements for safety and quality as other healthcare services, and that contracts will be a prerequisite for public co-payment.

The report discusses three basic prerequisites for the development of the service.

Quality and safety

Remote healthcare services should meet the same clinical quality standards as on-site services. It is proposed that quality indicators be defined for providers in addition to central quality indicators. Equity and accessibility are at the forefront so that the service creates value for users, providers and society.

Data registration and technical coordination

Registration must comply with current laws on confidentiality, security and data protection, and support continuous service, professional decision-making and traceability.

Funding

Funding is a basic prerequisite for remote healthcare services to become a viable part of the system. It is proposed that funding be defined for establishment, implementation and operations, as well as for infrastructure such as internet connections throughout the country. The aim is also to reduce user costs, such as travel expenses and loss of earnings.

The report itself is accesible here (in Icelandic): Stefna um fjarheilbrigðisþjónustu - skýrsla