Health and safety

Healthcare and Public Safety

Health Service

The social protection system in Iceland is a residence-based system that includes:

• Health Insurance
• Maternity/Paternity Insurance and Benefits
• Occupational Injury Insurance and Occupational Diseases
• Invalidity Pensions and Allowances (benefits)
• Old-age Pensions, Death Grants and Child Pensions

Public Safety

All municipalities operate fire services. Only the largest municipalities (i.e. Egilsstaðir and Fjarðabyggð) have professional firechiefs. The firemen are either volunteers or they receive a small remuneration. The cost of operating the fire services is paid by the municipal funds.

The regional health authority is responsible for ambulance services in the region. The chief of police, which are located in Seyðisfjörður and Eskifjörður, are responsible for police services in the area as well as civil defence, customs, and some emergency services. Voluntary search and rescue associations are in most communities in the region.