Health care
Everyone with a Faroese ID number has access to services from the Faroese health care system.
Health care services are financed by the government and by mandatory contributions from all residents through the National Health Insurance.
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.
Short term stay
Citizens of the Nordic countries and Great Britain staying in the Faroe Islands on a short term basis have the right to health care on the same terms as Faroese citizens if they become ill or injured.
Residents of other countries will need to acquire their own traveler's health insurance while staying on a short term basis in the Faroe Islands.
The health insurance regulation for EU countries does not apply to the Faroe Islands.
Employee´s insurance
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.
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National Health Insurance (in Faroese)
All residents in the Faroe Islands have equal access to health services – irrespective of their age, sex, origin, social status or income.
In the event of a medical emergency, please call the Emergency Services telephone number 112, or go directly to the Emergency Department at the hospital. The emergency telephone number must be used only for emergency calls in case of serious injury or illness when immediate treatment is needed.
For acute non-emergency referrals after normal working hours, please call the General Practitioners Service at the National Hospital telephone number 1870. The on-call physician will provide advice over the telephone or ask the patient to come to a check-up at a hospital.
For urgent dental service on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, call +298 314544 between 10 and 11 am.
General medical treatment is provided by primary doctors - General Practitioners. Every new residence 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.
General Practitioners have telephone consultation hour from 8 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.
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.
The General Practitioner can refer patients to hospital treatment.
There are three hospitals in the Faroe Islands – in Tórshavn, Klaksvík and Suðuroy. The National Hospital, Landssjúkrahúsið, in Tórshavn is the main hospital. Most illnesses and injuries can be managed at the National Hospital but in some cases it may be necessary to receive treatment abroad.
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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, 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 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.
Medicine is sold at pharmacies. Some medicines are freely available to buy and for others a prescription from a doctor is needed. The National Health Insurance provides benefits for some medicines.
Pharmacies are located in Tórshavn, Klaksvík, Tvøroyri and Runavík. Furthermore, there are approximately 30 pharmacy outlets throughout the islands.
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Several associations provide guidance and assistance for people with special diseases or disabilities.
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The Secretariat for Handicap Associations (in Faroese) The Cancer Association (in Faroese) The Faroese Deaf Association (in Faroese and Danish) The Faroese Association for the Blind (in Faroese) The Alzheimer´s Association (in Faroese) The Faroese Arthritis Association (in Faroese) The Association for the Mentally Retarded (in Faroese) The Autistic Association (in Faroese) Parasport - The Sport Assocation for the Disabled (in Faroese) The Sclerosis Association (in Faroese) The Association for the Mentally Disabled (in Faroese) The Faroese Diabetes Association (in Faroese) |