Faroese health authority warns against expanding dialysis services beyond current capacity

The Faroese national health service has cautioned that expanding dialysis treatment to more locations across the Faroe Islands could compromise professional standards, according to a statement from acting director Tummas í Garði reported by Kringvarp Føroya.

The warning follows a report by news outlet Dagin og Vikan highlighting that dialysis patients from the northern islands spend up to two hours each way traveling to the capital, Tórshavn, for treatment. Herluf Vang, director of transport company Auto—which handles patient transfers—contested the claim, stating the journey takes a maximum of one hour and fifteen minutes.

The report also noted that dialysis services in Suðuroy have functioned well and suggested similar provisions should be established in Klaksvík. However, the health authority maintains that both medically and financially, it is preferable to centralise dialysis rather than distribute it across multiple locations.