Iceland has been waiting, for some time now (since May 2017, when Parliament agreed to start the process), for its Minister of Health to announce the establishment of a working group to lay out a national dementia strategy. Earlier this year, in February, the Minister decided, instead, to give the assignment to one individual, a doctor named Jón Snædal. Dr Snædal has been the main doctor when it comes to dementia for the last 30-40 years in Iceland.
Alzheimer Iceland has since met with the doctor, to give its input, right from the start of the process. Another meeting is planned, when Dr Snædal has finished the first draft. The plan is for this to happen in June 2019. “Because of this development, we are optimistic that we will see the first issue of a strategy for people with dementia in Iceland later this year”, said Árni Sverrisson, Chairman of Alzheimer Iceland. Another positive development, in Iceland, is the establishment of an Icelandic working group of people with (early stage) dementia (see the “Members’ news” section for more information on the group).
