Iceland contracts private health services for metabolic surgeries to combat obesity

Iceland’s health authorities have chosen to contract private health services for metabolic surgeries aimed at combating obesity. This move marks the first instance where the Icelandic government will partly fund such operations. This decision was announced recently and comes in response to increasing numbers of patients seeking surgeries abroad with cost coverage from the health insurance system.

Concerns have been raised regarding the need for enhanced oversight of privately contracted healthcare services. A professor from the University of Iceland highlighted that although privatization in healthcare has grown, monitoring of these contracts has often been inadequate. The professor noted that as more private entities provide health services, effective oversight becomes even more crucial.

Iceland’s health insurance agency claims that assessments indicate it is economically viable to include metabolic surgeries in their contracts related to public health initiatives. They also acknowledged a significant rise in patients traveling abroad for surgeries, which incurs higher costs for the insurance system.

The agency plans to issue a call for proposals from private healthcare providers. They affirmed that any agreements made would depend on funding provided in the national budget and emphasized the necessity for a clear professional framework to ensure quality and effectiveness in procurement processes for health services.

As Iceland seeks solutions to its growing healthcare demands, the focus now intends to shift more towards in-country services, thereby reducing the number of patients relying on services abroad and improving access to timely medical interventions.