Organizational Chart
The role of offices within the Directorate of Health according to a new structure that went into effect on 1 December 2019.
Offices within the Directorate of Health
The Office of Supervision and Quality of Healthcare is responsible for the primary oversight of healthcare facilities and healthcare practitioners and quality development in healthcare services. The supervision applies to both public and private institutions. Part of the monitoring involves audits within institutions and at healthcare facilities. The office supervises prescriptions and promotes the prudent use of medicinal products in Iceland.
The office receives patient complaints regarding health services or reminders about the Health Records Act. The investigation of serious unexpected events falls under the purview of the office. These events are followed up on, and office employees ensure appropriate corrective action is taken to promote the quality of health services.
Reprimands, restrictions, and the suspension of medical and healthcare licenses, as described by laws governing the Directorate of Health, fall under the Office of Supervision and Quality of Healthcare.
The office also handles legal matters relating to the Directorate of Health.
The office director is Jóhann M. Lenharðsson, email address johann.m.lenhardsson(at)landlaeknir.is
The Office of Health Information is the centre for health information in Iceland. The office is responsible for the organization and operation of national registers on health, disease, accidents, prescriptions of medicinal products, births, causes of death, and the functioning and performance of health services by Article 8 of the Medical Director of Health and Public Health Act, No 41/2007.
The purpose of the registers is to acquire knowledge about health and health services, monitor the service, ensure its quality, evaluate its effectiveness, and use it in planning for quality development in health services and scientific research. The Office of Health Information is also responsible for the implementation of the regular study, Health and Wellbeing, which is an essential source of information on health, well-being, and way of life for people living in Iceland.
The data collection and analysis of the office are intended to meet various needs. These include support for policies and actions of the health authorities, support for health-promoting communities, utilization of the duty to regulate the agency, and for the general web-publishing of health and health services statistics.
The office also handles applications for access to data for scientific research. The Office of Health Information is involved in diverse international cooperation in the field of health information. It is also responsible for transmitting data to international organizations such as NOMESCO, WHO, OECD, etc. This enables Icelanders to compare their health, well-being, and healthcare in Iceland with other countries.
The office director is Sigríður Haraldsd Elínadóttir, email sigridur.haraldsd.elinardottir(at)landlaeknir.is
The Office of Public Health aims to support communities, schools, and workplaces in creating conditions that promote health and well-being for all. Emphasis is placed on collaboration with local authorities, health care, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to promote effective public health work across sectors and sectors of society, e.g. through Health Promoting Community, Health Promoting Pre-, Compulsory, and Upper Secondary Schools, and Health Promoting Workplaces.
The office is engaged in health promotion and prevention work where the main influencing factors of health are used comprehensively. Health promotion is promoted by promoting a healthy diet, increased physical activity, good sleep, mental health, and dental hygiene, as well as providing preventive measures for tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse.
The office also works on suicide, violence, and accident prevention. The Offices of Public Health and Health Information monitor the status and development of selected health determinants with regular monitoring and the Health and Wellbeing survey. Furthermore, based on this data, regional public health indicators are produced. The office also works with the board of the Public Health Fund to allocate grants.
The office director of the office is Dóra Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir, email address dora.g.gudmundsdottir(at)landlaeknir.is
The National Centre for e-Health is responsible for developing and implementing information technology in health care in a safe, cost-effective and efficient manner, thus contributing to good and safe services and improved public health at all stages of life. Its responsibilities include:
Maintaining and managing IT policy in healthcare at a national level, in consultation with healthcare authorities and other key stakeholders.
Developing and implementing an electronic health record for patients, healthcare professionals, managers and governments.
Developing and implementing access for individuals to health information via the My Pages website at heilsuvera.is
Developing and operating the Icelandic health network (Hekla)
Supervising the security of network and information systems of organizations in healthcare.
The goal is for healthcare professionals to have secure access to information in medical records wherever and whenever needed and for individuals to always have access to their health information.
The National Centre for e-Health contributes to the increased security and quality of medical records and promotes the sharing and processing of information from electronic medical record systems.
The centre oversees the office's information systems. It includes responsibility for the day-to-day operation of hardware and software systems and the development of software and electronic systems.
The director of the National Centre for e-Health is Ingi Steinar Ingason, email address ingi.s.ingason(at)landlaeknir.is
The Office of Administration and Safety is responsible for all internal operations of the Directorate of Health, such as treasury, human resources, records management, quality and safety, housing, e-government development, reception, and telephone management, as well as publication and dissemination of material on the website and in other forms.
The office is responsible for ensuring proper accounting and book-keeping practices for the directorate and providing a realistic position and forecast of outcomes for the directorate's operations at least quarterly.
The office is responsible for responding to operational oversight and informing the executive board immediately.
The office is responsible for granting licenses and specialist licenses of healthcare professions and confirms the operation of health services. The office also governs the processing of applications for exemption from the age provisions of the Act on Healthcare Practitioners to operate a clinic in healthcare services.
The office is advisory to other divisions within the directorate regarding matters of employees and the fulfilment of contracts between the state and trade unions.
The office is responsible for the premises of the Directorate of Health. It monitors that accessibility and security matters comply with laws and regulations and meet the requirements for the premises of public institutions.
The office director is Þórgunnur Hjaltadóttir, email address thorgunnur.hjaltadottir(at)landlaeknir.is
The Office of Communicable Disease Control is responsible for communicable disease control and prevention, and it is carried out by the Icelandic Act on Health Security and Communicable Diseases. The office is also responsible for carrying out the actions outlined in the Policy on Civil Protection and Security 2015–2017.
The office handles relations with the World Health Organization under the International Health Regulation, with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and with the European Council for Health and Safety.
The office is responsible for monitoring the indicators that may indicate that the people in Iceland are under threat from infectious diseases, pandemics, toxic chemicals, radioactive substances, natural disasters, or unexpected events that may threaten health and well-being.
Further, the office is responsible for providing recommendations in the field of quarantine to the government, the public, and other actors involved in civil protection, developing response plans in cooperation with the Civil Protection Department of the National Commissioner of Police, and taking official and individual actions that may hinder epidemics in Iceland.
The office is responsible for organizing and monitoring general vaccination in Iceland, antibiotic use, and the spread of resistant pathogens, providing advice on this issue and taking action if necessary.
The Chief Epidemiologist and the office director is Guðrún Aspelund, email: gudrun.aspelund(at)landlaeknir.is
The Data Protection Officer advises employees regarding data protection issues, answers public inquiries and supervises that the office fulfils its obligations under the Data Protection Act.