The Minister of Health (Icelandic: Heilbrigðisráðherra) was a cabinet position which existed between 20 November 1959 and 1 January 1970 and again between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2010. The Ministry of Health existed alongside the minister after 1 January 1970 when the Cabinet of Iceland Act no. 73/1969 took effect since ministries had not formally existed separately from the ministers. Between 1 January 1970 and 1 January 2008 the position became Minister of Health and Social Security (Icelandic: Heilbrigðis- og tryggingamálaráðherra) and the ministry itself was also renamed accordingly. On 31 December 2010 the Ministry of Health was merged with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Security to form the Ministry of Welfare.