The sign at the Meilahti hospital area in front of the Meilahti Hospital’s emergency department in Helsinki. LEHTIKUVA
- Next Article Significant increase in private healthcare reimbursements in Finland: Over €50 million paid out in early 2024
Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) has announced the commencement of extensive employee negotiations as part of its 2025 budget preparation, aiming to secure €50 million in savings. The decision, made by the HUS governing board on August 19, 2024, is a response to a significant financial adjustment requirement, with a total of €140 million needed to balance the budget for 2025.
The negotiations will involve all 28,000 employees of HUS, with the potential reduction of up to 990 full-time positions.
Despite these cuts, the board has emphasized the importance of maintaining patient safety throughout the process.
The board has also urged HUS management to initiate immediate discussions with the Uusimaa welfare regions and the city of Helsinki to revise the 2025 budget framework to align more closely with the board’s previous proposals from May 2024. Additionally, HUS leadership has been instructed to appeal to the government for a one-year extension to address the budget deficit, request special funding to reduce treatment queues, and advocate for direct university hospital funding independent of the regional budgets.
In a related decision, HUS will transfer operations at its Raasepori and Lahti facilities to local welfare regions effective January 1, 2025. The Raasepori hospital’s inpatient ward, emergency services, and support functions will be handed over to the Western Uusimaa welfare region, while the radiotherapy unit in Lahti will be transferred to the Päijät-Häme welfare region. These changes are part of a broader restructuring plan approved earlier this year.
This decision has sparked political commentary, with Member of Parliament Johan Kvarnström (SDP) criticizing the government for underfunding the healthcare sector. Kvarnström has called for urgent solutions, including extending the timeline for budget adjustments and front-loading future funding to address current shortfalls. He warns that the ongoing financial pressures could exacerbate existing challenges in delivering timely care, particularly in the context of recent cuts, such as the closure of the maternity ward in Lohja.
The HUS board’s next meeting is scheduled for September 2, 2024, where further discussions on the 2025 budget and related financial strategies are expected.
HT
- Next Article Significant increase in private healthcare reimbursements in Finland: Over €50 million paid out in early 2024
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
