General information on the dispensing of medicines

Under the Regulation on the prescribing and dispensing of medicines, medicines may only be dispensed to the person to whom the prescription is issued, or to the owner or keeper of an animal, unless the holder of the prescription has authorised a specific individual.

The decision to require authorisation stems from repeated cases in previous years where medicines were collected by persons other than the holder of the prescription, without the holder's permission. It was therefore decided to clarify the interpretation and implementation of a provision in Article 19 of the Regulation, which states, among other things: "Medicines shall only be dispensed to the patient or his or her authorised person […]". To make it unambiguous who can be considered an authorised person in this respect, it is necessary to require authorisation from anyone who collects medicines from a pharmacy for someone other than themselves. In all cases, proof of identity must be presented, whether by the holder of the prescription or the authorised person.

Authorisation to collect medicines

The authorisation shall state the name and ID number (kennitala) of the authorised person. As a general rule, authorisation to collect medicines is granted electronically via My pages for individuals on Ísland.is, under Heilsa – Lyfin mín (Health – My medicines). An electronic solution such as this, where individuals log in with electronic ID, is a secure way to ensure the validity of authorisations and thereby the safe dispensing of medicines to authorised persons. The electronic solution also gives individuals better control over the authorisation they have granted than a written one, should the authorisation need to be changed or revoked.

In exceptional cases, where electronic authorisation cannot be granted, a written authorisation to collect medicines may be prepared. A written authorisation must be witnessed by two persons to ensure its validity. The names and ID numbers of all parties shall be stated.

Electronic authorisations via Ísland.is are automatically valid for three years unless otherwise selected, but the person granting the authorisation can choose a longer or shorter period. The period of validity of a written authorisation must be stated in the document.

Who can grant authorisation?

As a general rule, anyone who has reached the age of 16 can authorise another person to collect medicines from a pharmacy on their behalf.

Once children have reached the age of 16, they are regarded as independent users of health services, cf. the provisions of Chapter VI of the Act on the Rights of Patients. From that age, young people must therefore grant formal authorisation via Ísland.is to those who collect prescriptions in their name. This applies even if the person intending to collect the young person's medicines is a parent or guardian.

Children under 16

Children under the age of 16 are linked to their parents or guardians on the parents' or guardians' My pages on Ísland.is, which automatically creates an authorisation for them to collect medicines for their children. If needed, a parent or guardian can then authorise a third party to collect medicines for their child under the age of sixteen via the electronic authorisation system on Ísland.is.

Pharmacists' authority to make exceptions

The Regulation on the prescribing and dispensing of medicines authorises pharmacists to waive the requirement for authorisation when dispensing medicines in special circumstances.

Pharmacists may base their decision to waive the authorisation requirement on documentation from public authorities or from the patient's doctor explaining why a relative is collecting the medicines without authorisation and why the authorisation requirement cannot be met.

If an individual has already granted electronic authorisation, a new written authorisation is generally not valid except as an exception, and provided that the pharmacist has satisfied themselves of its legitimacy.

Special circumstances

Disability pensioners and persons with disabilities

The Act on Medical Records provides for the authority of a specialist physician to register and, where appropriate, grant electronic delegated authority to a third party on behalf of an individual who is unable to use electronic ID and/or electronic portals, or is unable to grant the authorisation themselves.

Rights protection for people with disabilities

In cases where people with disabilities or their advocates feel that their rights have been violated, for example where individuals' access to necessary medicines is restricted, the Icelandic Medicines Agency (IMA) refers them to the rights protection for people with disabilities at the Icelandic Human Rights Institute for the resolution of such matters. Contact is available by phone at 520 8802 or by email at rettindagaesla@mannrettindi.is.

Residents of residential care homes and group homes

The pharmacist at the pharmacy assesses how to verify unambiguously that the person concerned is authorised to collect medicines. The pharmacist may also waive the requirement for authorisation when dispensing medicines in special circumstances.

Foreign nationals

The pharmacist at the pharmacy assesses how to verify unambiguously that the person concerned is authorised to collect medicines for a foreign national.