INFORMATION SOCIETY 2004-2007, THE ICELANDIC GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.

The Icelandic government’s informatics policy, the Information Society 2004-2007, defines the evolution of electronic health care and social settings. This policy allows the consumer electronic access to health care and social services. The State Social Security Institute of Iceland (SSSI) is also expected to introduce electronic services where all of the main components will be available on the Internet latest the year 2006.

Information technology should first and foremost, be used to achieve an improved quality of life for all the people and communities in Iceland. The guiding principle of the policy is to use it for promotion of people’s welfare and tap as much benefits from the resources as possible [5].

THE SYSTEM OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES

The Ministry of Health and Social Security in Iceland was established January 1st 1970 in accordance with Act no. 73/1969. It has the responsibility for administration and policy making for health and social security issues in Iceland as prescribed by laws, regulations and other directives. The Ministry is responsible for the overall administration of health affairs and matters relating to social security insurance excluding unemployment insurance.

The Ministry of Health and Social Security in Iceland deals with issues as:

• Public Health
• Patient rights
• Operation of Hospitals, Health Centers and other providers of service
• Promotion of Information Technology in the health services in Iceland
• Social security

The health service in Iceland is primarily financed by central government. Financing is mainly based on taxes (85%) and the rest (15%) on fee for service.
The country is divided into health care regions, each with their own primary health care centers, some of which are partnerships with the local community hospital. Primary health care centers have the responsibility for general treatment and care, examination, home nursing as well as preventive measures such as family planning, maternity care and child health care and school health care.
The country is divided into health care regions, each with their own primary health care centers, some of which are partnerships with the local community hospital. Primary health care centers have the responsibility for general treatment and care, examination, home nursing as well as preventive measures such as family planning, maternity care and child health care and school health care.
Hospitals in Iceland may be ranked as specialized teaching hospitals, general hospitals and community hospitals. Hospitalization is free of charge. Most operations and procedures for all specialist medical fields are performed in the specialized hospitals. The health service is staffed by trained and qualified professional groups.
Life expectancy in Iceland (2003) is among the highest in the world. Average life expectancy at birth for females is 82.5 years and for males 78.7 years. Infant mortality is among the lowest in the world, 2.4 per 1000 live births [22].

THE SYSTEM OF SOCIAL INSURANCE SERVICES

The State of Social Security Institute (SSSI) is a governmental organization pertaining to social security, including pension, maintenance, health insurance, accident insurance, beside payment of parental leave and health care services for all Icelandic citizens. The informatics evolution has begun in the health care and insurance settings in Iceland. SSSI militates for extensive information and communication using health and public related databases as basis of its activity. The main database in SSSI contains personalized health and public related information which is the source of all its activity. Therefore, the structure, storage and retrieval of data in this significant database is essential. With informatics in its progressive evolution in SSSI, there is also a growing enthusiasm for ensuring positive image of the organization towards its customers, in addition to quality improvement of the services. There is an effort to improve electronic communication at SSSI but there is a lack of resources for enforcement [6].

THE SOCIAL INSURANCE SERVICES

A. Health services. Who is entitled?
A person who is resident in Iceland and who has been resident in Iceland for the last six months is regarded as having health insurance coverage. Residence refers to legal residence as understood in the Act on Legal Residence. The SSI determines whether an individual is regarded as insured in Iceland.

Children and adolescents, 16 years old and younger, are covered for health insurance through their parents [6].

LAWS AND DIRECTIVES

Icelandic laws and regulations
The health sector is regulated according to the Health Service Act of 1990 by which all inhabitants have right of access to the best possible health service at any given time for the protection of their mental, social and physical health.

According to the act on Social Security of 1993 the social security system is composed of insurances such as pension insurance, occupational injury insurance, health insurance and maternity insurance.

The main objective of the act on the Rights of Patients of 1997 is to ensure that there is no discrimination against patients on grounds of gender, religion, beliefs, nationality, race, skin color, financial status, family relation or status in other respect.