Iceland passes controversial health database law pass
RTw 17.12.98 17:28
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By Bernard Scudder
REYKJAVIK, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Iceland's parliament passed a
controversial law on Thursday allowing a private operator to
develop a centralised database of health records.
Advocates of the bill said Iceland's largely homogenous
population, with accurate genealogical records dating back for
centuries, is uniquely suited to genetic and medical research.
"This is an issue in the interests of progress... which will
contribute to better health and a better health service,"
said Siv Fridleifsdottir, deputy chairwoman of the parliamentary
committee on health, during the voting.
But opposition left-wing MP Hjorleifur Guttormsson described the
legislation as "a totalitarian act which casts a dark shadow
over Iceland in the international scientific community."
The bill, covering the most controversial issue in Iceland since
the NATO membership question in the early Cold War days, was
relaunched with substantial amendments this autumn.
Under the law, a company will be issued with an exclusive 12-year
licence to compile the database from medical records and use it
for research purposes including genetic studies.
It has been taken for granted during the long and heated debate
that the licence will go to deCODE Genetics, a company founded by
former Harvard neurology professor Kari Stefansson with backing
from foreign investors.
"deCODE Genetics is pleased with the outcome of today's
vote," Stefansson said.
"As the world moves forward in its efforts to unlock the
secrets of the genetics of human health and disease, we believe
that by working in partnership with the Icelandic people, we will
uncover knowledge that will lead to new ways to prevent and
better fight human illnesses," he said in a statement.