You can attend physical therapy without reference

At the beginning of 2023, a change was made to direct access to physiotherapists without a reference from a doctor. Now people can attend up to six treatment sessions with a physiotherapist without a reference, but Iceland Health pays the same part of the cost. This authorization also applies to children, but if they do not have a reference, they pay 30% of the price set, but with a reference, children receive physiotherapy for free. These changes to the obligation to refer were made to increase access to services for those who need physiotherapy and to ease the burden on the health care system.

More physical therapists conduct home physical therapy

1,457 people received home healthcare in 2023, an increase of 17% from the year before. People who receive home physical therapy are usually disabled, elderly or seriously ill, as well as individuals recovering from major operations. More physiotherapists have shown interest in providing this service, and the number increased from 132 to 197 during the year. Home physical therapy is often an important factor in supporting elderly people to live independently and defer the need for more expensive resources such as nursing homes.

Personal expenditure rises

The expenditure of Iceland Health for physiotherapy increased by 7% between years, but the proportion of individuals in expenditure was 21% higher than in the year before. This is mostly explained by the fact that more individuals used physiotherapy, but when individual expenditure is examined at each visit, it increased by almost 11%.

Furthermore, it should be pointed out that most physiotherapists have taken additional fees in addition to Iceland Health price list since January 2020, as an agreement has not been in effect since then. The additional fees are generally in the range of ISK 1,800-2,500 each time and do not enter into the payment participation system.

Women use physical therapy more

As before, women use physical therapy considerably more than men, with nearly 37,000 women attending physical therapy in 2023, compared to 25,000 men. However, the number of men increased in excess of women during the year, with a 14% increase in the male group, while the female group increased by 9%.

Age and gender of individuals who entered physiotherapy in 2023

Age and gender of individuals who entered physiotherapy in 2022

Access to physical therapy varies by region of country

The South has the largest population per physiotherapists and the East the second largest. It is expected that there will be demand for more physiotherapists in these geographical areas. The distribution of physiotherapists nationwide is voluntary and depends only on where physiotherapists are living and want to provide services.

There is a significant difference between health districts in how many times physiotherapy is used on average, but it can be seen that people in Suðurnes have the most times per person while people in Austurland have the fewest. This is probably due to various factors including the availability of physiotherapy, the availability of other services related to training and health as well as various social, social and health factors.

Access to physical therapy helps improve the quality of life of people and increases their functioning during different stages of life. Iceland Health contracts for payment participation in this service with physiotherapists in order to ensure the most of these important health services.