Minister of Health Alma D. Möller has decided to further develop healthcare and emergency response services in Öræfi, with the aim of ensuring the safety of residents and passers-by throughout the year. A working group will be set up to develop the future arrangements for the services, and the task will be to submit proposals to the minister by the end of October.

At the same time, the Minister has decided to extend the current emergency response arrangements in Öræfi until the end of 2025. This decision is based on a joint assessment by the director of the Health Institution of South Iceland (HSU) and the local authority of Hornafjörður, who agree on the importance of ensuring a response capacity in the area.

Although tourist numbers peaked in the summer months, experience has shown that the winter months are the most stressful for serious calls, especially from December to March. “I believe it is essential to undertake this project and thus ensure greater safety for both residents and tourists in this sparsely populated but busy area,” says Alma D. Möller. The Minister also plans to discuss with the Ministry of Infrastructure measures to improve road safety in the area and explore the possibility of building an approved medical airport.

During the past two summers, a special emergency response has been operated in Öræfasveit, based on the presence of an ambulance and experienced ambulance transport in cooperation with the rescue team Kári. At the Minister’s request, HSU planned such a response for the summer of 2025 as well. The goal is to ensure a quick response to accidents, acute illness and other emergencies, provide first aid and prepare for transport to a medical institution if necessary.

The area between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Hafnar spans about 200 km and therefore health care can be disruptive if there is no local presence. It is the assessment of the Ministry of Health and the Healthcare Institution of South Iceland that it is necessary to strengthen an integrated and local emergency and health care response in the area throughout the year.

The working group will submit proposals for the future arrangements for the service, focusing on the safety of residents and road users, clear division of tasks and effectiveness of response.