Directorate of Health of Iceland

The Directorate of Health is a government agency headed by the Chief Medical Officer for Iceland. On 1 May 2011, the Public Health Institute of Iceland was incorporated into the Directorate of Health according to new legislation enacted that day.

The current Chief Medical Officer is Geir Gunnlaugsson, MD, PhD, MPH. The Directorate of Health was established in 1760 and the present Chief Medical Officer is the 16th holder of the post.

Main functions of the Directorate of Health 

According to the latest amendments of the Chief Medical Officer and Public Health Act, No. 41/2007, the scope of the Directorate of Health was extended to include public health measures and health promotion in addition to its former functions. Among its present functions are:

• To advise the Minister of Welfare and other Government bodies, health professionals and the public on matters concerning health, disease prevention and health promotion.
• To sponsor and organise public health initiatives.
• To promote improvements of health care quality.
• To inspect the health care services and monitor health care workers.
• To monitor prescription medicines and promote their rational use.
• To collect and process data on health and health care services and promote research in that field.
• To handle complaints from health care users.
• To issue licences to practise to certified health care professionals and ensure that their education meets requirements.