Statement by H.E. Mr. Óttarr Proppé Minister of Health
70th World Health Assembly 
May 2017

Theme of discussion: "Building Better Systems for Health in the Age of Sustainable Development“

Mr. President, Director-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am honored to participate in this assembly for the first time as minister of health in Iceland.

Since I took office, four months ago, I have realized the importance of WHO and its guidance for health and well-being in countries.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a very ambitious one. We see the Agenda as supportive of the “Whole-of-Government” and the “Whole-of-Society” approach in promoting and protecting health, - as the agenda emphasizes engagement and cooperation of governance in all policy arenas and all sectors.

Mr. President.

The Agenda for Sustainable Development gives us therefore an incentive and an opportunity to build better systems for health and well-being.

Mr. President.

The mission statement of the new government in Iceland emphasizes the need of health care strategy with focus on equal access, efficient and safe health care delivery and a vision of “Health in All Policies”.

For this purpose the role and responsibility of different health care providers will be better defined and the collaboration between parties will be evaluated and refined.

In Iceland we have, during the last years, emphasized on improving our primary health care system.

A new quality and payment system is being introduced and is expected to improve quality as well as access to primary care as the first contact point into the health care system.

To further improve service quality, multidisciplinary team work, of the Primary Health Care Centers, will be strengthened by larger numbers of psychologists, physiotherapists, nutritionist and other professionals to better meet the needs of the individuals, for example, in relation to mental and lifestyle challenges.

In Iceland, as in other countries, special focus on mental health and the elderly is important at all levels. This is important, in particular, at the primary level where prevention plays a crucial role as well as the support of self-care and independent living.

Furthermore, increased emphasis is on e-health to enhance both access to care and the quality of care provided. Here, the focus is on strengthening e-health in district areas and on supporting mental health care services by using e-health.

Mr. President.

In Iceland we strive to promote and create healthy environments to facilitate healthier choices for example through “Health Promoting Community” projects that promote health throughout the lifecycle in cooperation with various partners within municipalities. “Health and well-being” is also one of six fundamental pillars of education in Iceland on which the curriculum guidelines are based.

Mr. President.

The importance of reducing inequalities within and among countries has been explicitly recognized as a Goal in the Sustainable Development Agenda. In Iceland we launched last year Public health indicators for every health district in Iceland with the aim to contribute to societal development that promotes public health and reduces inequalities in health.

Iceland is also committed and continues to promote gender equality and inclusive societies when realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mr. President.

I want to conclude by thanking Dr. Chan for her leadership and dedication to the WHO and congratulate

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on his election as the new Director General.

Thank you for your attention!