Iceland's Health Minister Alma D. Möller emphasizes the need to address the root of the problems at the Emergency Department, highlighting a significant shortfall in the expansion of nursing facilities.
Iceland's Health Minister, Alma D. Möller, has stated that significant improvements are needed in the emergency care system to address long-standing issues. During an interview on Bylgjunni's Sprengisandi, she highlighted that the pace of building new nursing spaces has been far too slow, suggesting that the existing problems are systemic and require immediate attention. Healthcare workers at the Emergency Department have been expressing their concerns for some time, indicating that the current conditions may have reached a breaking point.
Möller referenced a recent article highlighting the shortage of nursing facilities in light of an increasing elderly population. According to her statements, there was an initiative to increase the number of nursing spaces by over 540 between 2019 and 2024; however, only an increase of about 69 spaces has actually materialized. This disparity indicates a concerning failure to meet the growing needs of Iceland's aging population, placing additional strain on an already overwhelmed healthcare system.
She stressed that this lack of expansion is not only a logistical issue but also a significant public health concern, as it impacts the quality of care that can be provided to patients in the emergency setting. Möller’s remarks underline the urgent necessity for policy changes and increased funding to rectify these deficiencies, ensuring that healthcare services can adequately support the needs of Iceland's citizens.
