Funds for treatment abroad spent in the Faroes

For many years, public grants earmarked for specialist treatment abroad have been spent on medical care in the three hospitals in the Faroes.

This needs to be sorted out now, says the Finance Committee in connection with the processing of a supplementary appropriation for the health service.

It can affect the political processing when an appropriation is earmarked for specialist treatment abroad, and the amounts are often quite significant, says MP and finance committee member Ruth Vang.

Transferred treatment

It has emerged that in many cases the grants designated for treatment abroad are spent on transferring treatment back to the Faroes, says Vang. 

A document from 2014 reveals that more than DKK 6 million was spent on transferring treatment back to the Faroes in 2014, 4 million in 2015, 6 million in 2016 and 9 million in 2017.

Last year, more than DKK 14 million of the funds earmarked for specialist treatment abroad was spent in the Faroes.

Translated by prosa.fo