Íslenska
Sick on your Holiday in Iceland?
Falling ill during a holiday is no one’s idea of a good time. But no reason to panic! Here is some information on how to find medical care in Iceland.
Doctors & Hospitals
Medical care in Iceland is of high quality and most doctors/medical staff speak English rather well. However, there are limited services outside larger urban areas – hospitals can only be found in Reykjavik and larger towns. Smaller towns have at least one doctor and one pharmacy (apótek). Icelandic pharmacies are usually open from 10 am to 6 pm (10:00 – 18:00) and accept cash and cards.
Emergencies
For emergencies in Iceland, dial 112 to reach the police, the fire department, and rescue teams. It doesn’t matter whether or not your phone works in Iceland: you can always call 112. It’s free of charge and works anywhere with a cell reception or a landline. The basic rule when calling 112 – the 3 Ws:
WHO are you? WHERE are you? WHY are you calling? (i.e. what is the problem?)
The emergency room (Bráðamóttaka) – Serious illnesses and injuries
For any injuries or illnesses that need immediate attention (e.g. broken bone, bad cut) but do not require an ambulance you can go to the Emergency Room (Bráðamóttaka) at Landsspítali in Fossvogur. No appointment is needed. However, patients are triaged based on the seriousness of their illness/injury. So, if you know that your condition is not serious, it might be better to seek help somewhere else – especially if the emergency room is already very busy.
Minor illnesses and injuries, drug prescriptions and so forth
For minor issues such as the flu or a rash or anything that you would normally bring to your general practitioner/ family doctor, you can simply visit one of the Primary Health Care Centers (usually open from 8 am to 4 pm). They can be found in almost every neighbourhood in Reykjavik. Although it can be rather difficult to get an appointment without having to wait for a longer time, they always reserve a certain amount of appointments during the day for matters that can’t wait.
Costs
European citizens always need to bring their E111 (EHIC, European Health Insurance Card). Your EHIC enables you to access necessary state-provided healthcare in Iceland at a reduced cost, or sometimes for free if you’re staying there temporarily.
Make sure you are treated by a healthcare provider in the state system because you will not be covered for private healthcare with an EHIC.
For more information, you can visit the official website of the European Union: How to use the EHIC card in Iceland
However, as a foreign citizen, you will have to pay the full price for all medical services. Therefore, we strongly recommend you get travel insurance that covers such costs!
Here is a blog with general & practical information about Iceland: