Faroese Red Cross warns of critical shortage in healthcare aide training

Only 16 applicants have signed up for a new healthcare aide program at the Faroese Health School, far below the 20-student minimum required to launch the course, the head of the Faroese Red Cross told public broadcaster KVF on Wednesday.

Mary Antonsdóttir, chair of the Red Cross in the Faroe Islands, called the low interest “completely incomprehensible and serious,” noting that the program—planned to include a cohort in the capital, Tórshavn—would give graduates a monthly wage premium of 2,500 kronur over untrained assistants at the same level.

The Health School has set a 20-student threshold to proceed with the training.