Reykjavík, November 13, 2025 — The Icelandic competition authority has reiterated recommendations, first directed to the Ministry of Health in October 2017, to equalise the working environment of privately operated and public health centres. The recommendations were prompted by comments received from privately operated health centres about competitive discrimination.
The original letter also discussed changes that had taken place in the health-centre system in the capital area and the importance that users of health centres be able to move between centres regardless of their form of operation, thereby creating incentives for the centres to improve service, efficiency, and economy in the system.
In connection with media coverage in the autumn of 2021, in which complaints were made about the poor operational position of privately operated health centres, the authority reiterated the recommendations to the Ministry.
The authority has recently received indications that health authorities have not responded in a satisfactory manner to the recommendations. In response, it sought viewpoints and information from both the Ministry of Health and privately operated health centres.
In a letter attached to the parties of the case, the authority reiterates its earlier recommendations and points out items that it considers urgent action needs to be taken into consideration by the health authorities.
According to the authority, the examination costs of privately operated health centres at Landspítali have been considerably higher than those of public centres for the same service. Most examinations for the clients of the health centres are carried out by the hospital’s diagnostic division.
Health authorities have said from the year 2017 that equalising the situation in this respect is under review, but no targeted measures have been taken. Other items highlighted by the authority include problems related to centralised services, speciality training of general practitioners, and requirement descriptions and compliance with them.
