Health care

All individuals residing in the Faroe Islands who have a Faroese ID number are automatically covered by the National Health Insurance.

The National Health Insurance covers general and specialized medical treatment and gives supplement to prescribed medicines, dental treatment and other specialized treatment, e.g. physiotherapy and psychotherapy.

Read more:

National Health Insurance (in Faroese)

Faroese employers are obliged to insure all employees against the consequences of employment injury or disease. The employee or his or her next of kin are entitled to compensation in case of injury, disease or death in connection with carrying out work.

Employees who have a Faroese retirement pension normally also have a further insurance against consequences of disability, serious disease and death.

In the event of a medical emergency, dial 112.

For urgent medical treatment outside the General Practitioner”s opening hours - between 4 pm and 8 am, call 1870 for the General Practitioners´ Service. The on-call physician will provide advice over the telephone or ask the patient to come to a check-up at a hospital.

For emergency dental service, call +298 314544 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays between 10 am and 11 am.

General medical treatment is provided by primary doctors - General Practitioners. Every new resident is assigned a General Practitioner by the National Health Insurance.

The General Practitioner is the first point of contact for any illness except for emergencies. He or she will direct patients to specialists when needed.

The General Practitioners also provide statutory duties such as vaccinations and medical examinations of children and pregnant women.

Most General Practitioners have telephone consultation hour from 8 am to 9 am.

Specialist health care services are available in hospitals or from practicing specialists. Seeing a specialist requires a referral from a General Practitioner.

For some specialist services a patient`s charge is claimed. The patient’s charge is paid directly to the specialist.

Dentists

Dental care for adults is carried out by dentists in private practice. The National Health Insurance covers part of the cost for dental care.

Children up to the age of 18 are entitled to free public dental treatment. Children´s dental services are administrated by the municipalities.

List of dentists   

Psychologists and Physiotherapists

Mental health service and physical therapy are available at private practices. If a General Practitioner has reffered the patient to a psychologist or a physical therapist, the National Health Insurance will cover 40 percent of the cost.

List of psychologists  

List of physiotherapists  

The General Practitioner can refer patients to hospital treatment.

There are three hospitals in the Faroe Islands – in Tórshavn, Klaksvík and Suðuroy. Most illnesses and injuries can be treated at the main hospital in Tórshavn or at a local hospital. In some cases it is necessary to receive treatment abroad.

Read more:

National Hospital of the Faroe Islands  

Pregnancy

Pregnancy check-ups are carried out by the General Practitioners and by midwives. Ultrasound scans are available, usually scheduled in the 18th week of pregnancy.

Childbirth

Childbirth takes place at the National Hospital in Tórshavn. Mother and child normally stay between 2 and 5 days in hospital after childbirth.

Child health care

The Child Health Care Service, Gigni (in Faroese), provides regular home visits to new families. Health visitor nurses examine the children in their home regularly up to the age of 18 months. Children with special needs may receive home visits up to the age of 6 years.

Families with small children moving to the Faroe Islans must contact the Child Health Care Service in order to receive home visits.  

General Practitioners provide medical check-ups up to the age of 5 and vaccinations according to a vaccination programme.

School nurses provide regular medical check-ups and personal interviews as well as parental guidance and information.