A new agreement between Iceland Health (Sjúkratryggingar) and pharmacies on pharmaceutical services marks a milestone in public access to healthcare. Influenza vaccinations will now be available at pharmacies, in addition to the service provided at health centres. Health Minister Alma Möller and Sigurður H. Helgason, CEO of Iceland Health, were among the first to use the service. They received their influenza vaccinations at ÍslandsApótek at noon today.

The new arrangement will make it easier for people to get vaccinated close to home. The aim is to improve access to services, increase the number of places where vaccinations are available, and at the same time ease the pressure on primary healthcare.

This is also the first project to be implemented under the White Paper on Expanded Pharmaceutical Services in Pharmacies. It is a step towards a greater role for pharmacies in the basic services of the healthcare system.

"This is a welcome step towards more accessible healthcare. By offering vaccinations at pharmacies, people get more options and can use the service closer to their home or workplace. At the same time, we are making better use of the healthcare system's resources. When simple, well-defined tasks are handled in pharmacies, it can reduce the strain on primary care and free up more capacity there for those who need more complex services," says Health Minister Alma Möller.

More targeted use of healthcare services

The agreement between Iceland Health and pharmacies on pharmaceutical services aims to make better use of pharmacies' expertise and facilities for well-defined healthcare tasks. This means people can get simple services at pharmacies instead of always having to turn to primary care.

The agreement is also part of developing the procurement and organisation of healthcare so that tasks are carried out where it is most cost-effective and where the service is most accessible to the public.

"The role of Iceland Health is to ensure that the public has access to good healthcare and that shared funds are used as effectively as possible. With this agreement, we are managing the service in a more targeted way and making better use of the infrastructure and expertise already available in pharmacies. It simplifies the service for people, promotes a more efficient division of labour and can increase cost-effectiveness in the healthcare system. This is a good example of how targeted contracting can benefit both users and the healthcare system," says Sigurður H. Helgason, CEO of Iceland Health.

Safe vaccinations and accessible information

Vaccinations at pharmacies will be administered by pharmacists and nurses who have completed recognised training in administering vaccines. Information about the vaccinations will be recorded directly in the vaccination register and will thus be accessible to healthcare professionals who treat the individual. People will also be able to see information about their own vaccinations on My Pages (Mínar síður). This ensures that vaccination records follow the individual, regardless of whether the vaccination takes place at a health centre or a pharmacy.

Same cost as at health centres

The cost to individuals for influenza vaccination will be the same at pharmacies as at health centres. People in priority groups, as defined by the Chief Epidemiologist, receive the influenza vaccine and the vaccination free of charge. People outside the priority groups pay for the vaccine at cost or purchase price, but the vaccination itself is free of charge. No visit fee is charged when the visit is solely for seasonal influenza vaccination, regardless of whether the person belongs to a priority group. Priority groups are served first during the period defined by the Chief Epidemiologist each season. After that period, cost coverage also extends to people outside the priority groups.

The first step in expanded pharmacy services

Influenza vaccinations are the first service to be introduced under the new agreement between Iceland Health and pharmacies. The agreement also covers training in the use of inhalers and support when starting medication treatment, but the implementation of these services is still being developed. There are also plans to add other types of vaccinations to pharmacy services later.

The aim of the agreement is to improve access to pharmaceutical services for insured persons, promote safe and effective medication treatment, increase adherence to treatment, and reduce incorrect or unnecessary medication use.

With vaccinations at pharmacies, a new step is being taken towards simpler, more accessible and more efficient healthcare for the public.

The following pharmacies have signed an agreement with Iceland Health, and more are on the way:

• Akureyrarapótek Norðurtorgi

• Apótek Suðurlands

• Apótekarinn

• Bæjarapótek

• ÍslandsApótek

• Lyfja

• Lyfjaval

• Reykjanesapótek

• Urðarapótek

Pictured below is Alma D. Möller, Minister of Health receiving the Influenza vaccine from an employee of ÍslandsApótek.