The president of the Icelandic Medical Association, Steinunn Þórðardóttir, raises urgent concerns about the state of healthcare in Iceland, specifically the crisis at Landspítalinn hospital where record numbers of patients are occupying emergency services. Current statistics reveal that over a hundred patients are waiting for nursing home placements, prompting serious questions about how the healthcare system is addressing the needs of the increasing elderly population. She highlights a troubling trend where these individuals are left without adequate care, exacerbating what she describes as a worsening situation.

In her opinion piece, Þórðardóttir stresses the necessity of prioritizing the healthcare crisis, which she feels has not been adequately addressed in the face of growing demands. She calls for immediate action, suggesting that a contingency plan should be implemented akin to those executed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would involve mobilizing resources and strategies to manage the surging number of elderly patients who are increasingly reliant on hospital care.

Þórðardóttir's remarks raise profound ethical considerations about the future of elderly care in Iceland. The suggestion of forcibly placing elderly individuals in the homes of citizens as a last resort underscores a desperate need for alternative solutions to a mounting crisis in the public health system, urging the government to review and transform its approach towards elderly care and support systems in light of these pressures.