Iceland faces growing shortage of specialist doctors

Demand for specialist medical services in Iceland far exceeds the healthcare system’s capacity, while the average age of doctors working under specialist agreements has risen sharply and recruitment has not kept pace, mbl.is reports.

Dr Stefán E. Matthíasson, a vascular surgeon and chief executive of Skurðstofan, says the outlook for healthcare provision is serious and that no solution is currently in sight.

He says policymakers need a better understanding of the importance of integrating Landspítali, Iceland’s national hospital, primary healthcare and specialist doctors.

Stefán also says negative attitudes among Landspítali managers towards doctors working part-time are based on a misunderstanding. Offering more varied working arrangements would be important in attracting doctors back to Iceland, he says.

“Without human resources, we are nothing. Competition for human resources has become extremely fierce, not only domestically but also abroad,” Stefán says.

The full report appears in the Saturday edition of Morgunblaðið.