If you are interested in finding out more about doctors salary in Iceland, there is a wealth of information out there. But much of it is conflicting or just not reliable. If you want to get to the truth and find out what doctors earn in Iceland you will need to do a fair amount of research.
If you are interested in studying medicine in Iceland, then this article is for you. We provide an overview of the Icelandic health care system, how to become a doctor in iceland and teacher salary in iceland.
Doctors Salary In Iceland
Iceland has universal healthcare. The healthcare system is largely paid for by taxes (84%) and to some extent by service fees (16%)[1] and is administrated by the Ministry of Health. A considerable portion of government spending is assigned to healthcare. There is almost no private health insurance in Iceland and no private hospitals.[2]
Financing and funding
The healthcare system in Iceland is financed with the taxes raised by the central government. This is affected by the Nordic welfare state model, in which public service is heavily funded through taxation to support the general public, in order for the population to have equal access to health care and welfare system.[3] Although local authorities have limited influence over the national health care system, Iceland has adapted to similar structures to other Nordic countries, implementing decentralized structure by dividing the country into seven local health care regions.[4] The health care regions were implemented to promote cooperations between institutions, and to provide quality care through regional provisions. However, this has not affected the financial responsibility of the central government. Although healthcare is to a great extent funded through taxation, some out-of-pocket expenses are still required, such as service fees, of which some groups are exempted, for example children, the disabled and elderly people [4][5]
As of 2018, out-of-pocket expenditure is at 16% of total healthcare expenditure, similar to levels of 2007 and 2008 but significantly lower than it was both at 2001 (19,5%) and 2021 (18,5%).[6] The general population has shown overwhelming support for universal healthcare and governmental funding. Through a research survey conducted in 2013 focused on Icelandic adults, in which 94% of the respondents want the government to spend more on public health care, and 81% of the respondents prefer and supports primary health care to be provided by the government.[7]
According to a study in The Lancet, the Icelandic healthcare system has the world’s second best Healthcare Access and Quality Index, a composite measure collected as a part of the Global Burden of Disease Study.[8]
Healthcare services
Primary care
Health centers that provide primary health care are located throughout the country, while some runs along smaller institutes and hospitals, all are funded and administered by central government.[9] In accordance with the 1973 Health Care Act, which established universal primary health care and increase the amount of health personnel and institutes in the country, all patients are required to register and access through a primary care center and a general practitioner of their choice.[10] Specialist services are provided mainly by general practitioners, privately operated or publicly funded.
Secondary care
There are a total of 6 regional hospitals and 16 health institutions throughout the country, funded through fixed global budgets. The main hospital is located in Reykjavik. Most hospital professionals and doctors are salaried employees, and are paid through hospital budgets. Doctors can also see private patients outside of the hospitals if they receive 80 percent or less.[10]
Long-term care
Long-term care can be accessed through institutions or at home. These includes personal assistance and domestic care, including nursing homes or child care. These services are provided by either private institutes or public services, and are funded through national budgets.[10] Part-time and home-based child care are payable but subsidized, priority are given to special interest groups.[11]
Medical training
Iceland does not have its own specialist medical training system, so Icelandic doctors typically spend 8 or 10 years working abroad before returning to the country. They often use the relationship established in training for ongoing support.
So how much will doctor salary in Iceland be?
How much will doctor salary in Iceland be?
The medical license exam for doctors is very important for candidates to have a successful career in the medical field. For this reason, there are several things that you need to consider before taking the exam. The first thing is knowing what the requirements of your country’s health authorities are so that you can prepare yourself well and pass the exam easily. The second thing would be looking at different training courses or workshops that are available through local schools or universities near where you live so that they can help guide you through any concerns or questions that arise during preparation time. Finally, if none of these options work out for your needs then consider using online resources such as our website here at www(dot)iceland-medicalcareers(dot)com which has some excellent advice on how best approach preparing yourself while also keeping track with current trends around Europe when it comes down
Typical working hours, and any other benefits provided.
If you’re an American doctor, the typical working hours are similar to those in other countries. You can expect to work a 40-hour week and have some vacation time during the year. In addition, most physicians enjoy additional benefits such as retirement plans and paid health insurance. Iceland is no exception here—working conditions are standard for doctors around the world.
If you’re looking at moving to Iceland as a professional physician, you’ll earn much more than if you stayed in America or opted for another country’s healthcare system (both of which typically pay less). However, with all this extra money comes extra responsibility: being an Icelandic doctor means having more autonomy than your counterparts abroad do—meaning that if something goes wrong with one of your patients’ treatment plans or diagnoses then it’s on you!
What are the perks of working as a doctor in Iceland?
There are many perks of working as a doctor in Iceland. The first thing to note is how much you can get paid. As mentioned above, doctors in Iceland make the most money out of all professionals in the country. This is because of their high level of education and expertise, but also because there aren’t many jobs available for them so they have more bargaining power when negotiating salaries.
When it comes to working hours, doctors don’t really have set hours like they would if they worked in America or Europe. They can choose their own schedule as long as they meet their requirements each month (which includes seeing certain numbers of patients per week). They’ll also be required to work one weekend day every week so that medical emergencies can be handled quickly during these periods.
As far as benefits go: doctors get a good pension plan which allows them retire after 30 years with an 80% pension at age 65; free healthcare; free food at hospitals/other workplaces where employees eat lunch; free gym memberships if needed; tax-free housing allowance if living outside Reykjavik City Center (which covers some costs associated with transportation); and flexible vacation time allotted according to doctor’s needs (but usually ranging from 2-4 weeks per year).
I think that’s it.
If you’re thinking of moving to Iceland, I think that’s it. I hope this helped you decide if it’s a good choice for your future career. If you have any questions about working in Iceland or anything else, please leave them in the comments below or message me on Facebook!
how to become a doctor in iceland
Postgraduate training in internal medicine in Iceland
After graduating with a medical degree, a completion of a twelve month long internship is required in order to obtain a medical license. The internship, which is completed under supervision, includes at least four months of internal medicine, two months of surgery or emergency medicine and at least four months of general practice. A general license to practice as a medical doctor is issued by the Directorate of Health. Once the trainee has acquired a license, he or she can apply for residency. Due to the small size of the Icelandic population (340.000), postgraduate training can only be completed in in psychiatry and general practice. In other specialties only partial training is offered so that most physicians need to complete their postgraduate training in other countries. From September 2015, Landspitali_The University Hospital of Iceland has offered a three year postgraduate training programme in internal medicine in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians in London. The UK Core Medical Training has been implemented (slightly adapted to Icelandic circumstances) and the trainees use the same curriculum and have the same responsabilities and requirements as UK trainees. As the Icelandic internship is one-year long while the UK Foundation programme takes two years, the Core Medical Training programme is three years in Iceland compared to two years in the UK. If all the requirements are met (including the internal medicine postgraduate exams) one can achieve a Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). However, an Icelandic regulation established by the Ministry of Welfare states that in order to become certified in internal medicine, one has to complete a five-year training programme in the specialty. Additional two years of subspecialty training is required for dual certification. The majority of physicians therefore move abroad for further training. Postgraduate training in the subspecialties of internal medicine is not offered in Iceland.
teacher salary in iceland
A person working in Teaching / Education in Iceland typically earns around 729,000 ISK per month. Salaries range from 349,000 ISK (lowest average) to 1,330,000 ISK (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Teaching / Education careers.
