The Department of Communicable Diseases is responsible for the project Improving and Strengthening National Surveillance Systems in Iceland (Iceland-ISNSS). The project is funded by the EU4Health programme and is part of a joint initiative within the EU/EEA area. The aim is to enhance the digital infrastructure for monitoring communicable diseases and pathogens in Iceland, that are under surveillance by the Chief Epidemiologist in accordance with the Communicable Diseases Act.
The project builds on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to strengthen preparedness, enhance coordination, and increase the efficiency of data flows within the country. Improvements to these systems will also support more effective information sharing with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Key improvements include:
Enhance the Communicable Diseases Register: Upgrade the database for efficient data collection and processing.
Develop a Screening Registration System: Create a system to enhance monitoring of various pathogens, especially respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and influenza.
Improve Database Interconnectivity: Establish links between databases to facilitate comprehensive surveillance, including for severe infections.
Streamline Clinical Data Submission: Implement a system within the electronic health record that allows doctors to efficiently submit clinical data for notifiable diseases.
Build a Contact Tracing Database: Create a robust system for contact tracing.
Enhance Data Visualization: Develop a digital interface for near real-time display of surveillance data.
The project began in January 2025 and will run for four years.
The project focuses on developing a new electronic platform for notification of diseases subject to registration, in which clinical notifications, contact tracing, and sampling are integrated into a single system. The system will simplify the notification process for physicians and ensure safe, accurate and traceable reporting to the Chief Epidemiologist. In parallel, updated dashboards will be developed on the Directorate of Health's website, providing access to real-time epidemiological information.
The objective of the project is to simplify and streamline the notification process, reduce administrative workload, and ensure that information on diseases is reported in a structured and systematic manner. This will improve data quality, traceability, and overall oversight of diseases subject to registration under the Act on Communicable Disease Control (no. 19/1997). At present, registration and information exchange are complex and fragmented across multiple systems, which limits overall oversight. The new surveillance system supports secure, coordinated, and traceable information flow.
Implementation will take place in phases, in accordance with the timeline outlined in the milestone report. Testing of the first disease groups began in November 2025 and will continue step by step through the end of 2028. Relevant user groups will be involved in testing at different stages of implementation to ensure that the final system reflects real-world workflows and professional needs. Full implementation is planned for the end of 2028.
All solutions comply with Icelandic legislation on data protection (no. 90/2018), the handling of health information and the medical record etc., and related regulations, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR; EU 2016/679), and other relevant EU security standards.
Yes, paper-based reporting of diseases subject to registration will be replaced by an electronic system that will:
guide users through a simple and clear question flow,
display only questions relevant to the specific disease and previous responses,
reduce the time required to submit a notification.
Information on the project´s progress will be available on this website, where news, updates, and guidance for health professionals will be published on a regular basis.
For general inquiries, please contact us at svl@landlaeknir.is. Please include “ISNSS” in the subject line of your email.
