The Healthcare Institution of South Iceland
HSU and Fjarlækningar Partner to Introduce a New Digital Healthcare Service
13th August 2026
Heilbrigðisstofnun Suðurlands and Fjarlækningar have launched a partnership aimed at improving access to medical services through a new digital care pathway. The initiative is a pilot project designed to simplify the management of common and well-defined healthcare requests, reduce waiting times, and create greater capacity within primary care services to focus on more complex cases.
Davíð Egilsson Chief Physician in Vestmannaeyjar, Mads Aanesen Co-founder of Fjarlækningar, Iðunn Dísa Director of Nursing, Díana Óskarsdóttir CEO HSU and Victor Guðmundsson Co-founder Fjarlækningar
HSU clients can submit requests through the HSU website, which directs them to the secure Telemedicine patient portal. Through the portal, clients can receive a response from a physician within two hours during opening hours, every day from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Initially, the service will be available exclusively to HSU clients in Vestmannaeyjar. Please note that the service is intended for individuals aged 18 and older.
At the outset, a range of common healthcare requests that do not require an in-person visit to a primary care clinic can be handled through the service. The platform’s questionnaires guide patients through targeted questions, similar to those asked during a traditional medical consultation. If responses indicate serious symptoms, patients are immediately directed to the appropriate healthcare services within the healthcare system.
Díana Óskarsdóttir, CEO of HSU, says the project represents an important step in the continued development and strengthening of healthcare services in South Iceland, which is the largest healthcare district in Iceland.
“One of our key responsibilities is to ensure equitable access to healthcare services regardless of where people live. For residents of South Iceland, it is crucial to utilize solutions that bring healthcare closer to people, reduce waiting times, and increase flexibility in service delivery.
We are therefore particularly pleased to launch this project in Vestmannaeyjar. We believe it will prove valuable for our clients there and provide important insights into how we can continue to develop and strengthen HSU’s services in the future. HSU has always emphasized creating opportunities for innovation and development among its staff, and this collaboration with Telemedicine is an excellent example of that approach,” says Díana.
Victor Guðmundsson, physician and CEO of Fjarlækningar, has spent recent years developing remote healthcare services and a digital telemedicine solution in Iceland together with his team, including Guðbjartur Ólafsson, a specialist in family medicine, and physician Mads Aanesen. Guðbjartur Ólafsson, Chief Medical Officer of Fjarlækningar, explains:
“Our goal is not to replace traditional primary healthcare but to use technology where it is most appropriate. The service is designed for specific, well-defined healthcare concerns and is therefore not suitable for every medical issue. However, by managing simple and well-defined cases safely and effectively, we can improve access to medical care while creating more capacity within primary care services to focus on patients who require more comprehensive treatment.”
Victor Guðmundsson says the idea originated while he was working in primary care.
“Time and again, we saw the same types of cases that, in many instances, could be resolved without requiring the patient to attend an in-person examination. That inspired the idea of a secure digital medical service that could improve access across the country, save time, and simplify healthcare delivery for both patients and healthcare professionals. We examined similar solutions abroad and developed the service based on those experiences, adapting it to Icelandic needs.
It is especially gratifying to launch this project here in Vestmannaeyjar. I have lived here for the past year and have seen firsthand how important it is to improve access to healthcare services, particularly outside the capital area. We believe that digital medical services can become an important complement to traditional primary healthcare and strengthen the healthcare system, especially in rural communities. We are therefore very excited about our collaboration with HSU and optimistic that this will be the first step toward improving access to medical services throughout the country.”