Patient rights

Treatment from the Faroese Hospital Service is usually prescribed by a general practicioner, the emergency service doctor (1870) or the emergency department.

Who has the rights for free treatment and which treatments are apply?

1. Those who have had a permanent and legal residency (and have a Faroese civil registration number) on the national register in the Faroe Islands for longer than the last six weeks. Those who have moved from Denmark or Greenland have these rights from the moment their residency is registered in the Faroe Islands. These rights include all kinds of examinations, treatments and nursing.

2. Scandinavians and Britons (citizens with registered residency in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Greenland and Great Britain) have the right to free treatments when it comes to emergency sickness, emergency injuries, emergency childbirth and worsening chronical sickness.

3. Citizens, that have a permant residency in Denmark or Greenland while studying in the Faroe Islands have the right to all kinds of examinations, treatments and nursing.

4. People that reside outside the Faroe Islands while undergoing studies or doing public beneficial work, while being in the Faroe Islands, and that have, prior to moving outside of the Faroe Islands, resided for atleast five years combined, have the right to free services and treatment in the Faroese health care system according to the same terms as those who are residing in the Faroe Islands.

If you are carrying a child while residing in Denmark, but you wish to give birth at the National Hospital of the Faroe Islands, some special rules apply. Please contact the Foreigner Services at the National Hospital.

Citizens and treatments that are not included by these provisions about free treatment have to pay for their services provided by the Faroese Hospital Service.

This bill is provided at the end of the treatment and is being made according to the Danish DRG settling system. You can request an estimated cost before undergoing treatment. Payments are made by cash or credit card, or by your insurance company or work place.

If you are in doubt with regards to your rights and your treatment possibilities for foreigners, please contact the Foreigner Services on uttanlandst@ls.fo or by phone on 30 45 00 (local 1150) – available on weekdays from 08:00 – 16:00.

There are several complaints and appeal boards that take care of complaints with regards to the Hospital Services, depending on the matter.

If you want a more precise guidance to your complaints, be welcomed to get in touch with the Government Office at the National Hospital at ls@ls.fo or on phone +298 304592.