A medical professional took the temperature of a patient in a health care centre in Helsinki in December 2022. Key Finnish ministers have rejected the recommendation that the government give well-being services counties more time to address their budget deficits. (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)
- Next Article Decline in Finnish house prices slowed almost to a complete halt in December
PRIME MINISTER Petteri Orpo (NCP) is reluctant to grant well-being services counties more time to tackle their gaping budget deficits, despite the recommendation of the Economic Policy Council.
The Economic Policy Council on Tuesday argued in a report that the counties require more time and flexibilities to patch up their deficits due to the difficult circumstances in which they began their operations in January 2023.
“This stance is in line with the previous government’s legislation, and we’ve committed to this in the government programme,” Orpo stated to YLE in Seinäjoki on Wednesday. “The reforms have to be carried out, and this is the framework for moving forward with them.”
The government, he pointed out, has already added 2.1 billion euros in funding for well-being services counties for 2025.
“At the same time, we’re encouraging and partly obligating well-being services counties to revamp their services so that the money is enough, that they get the employees [they need], and first and foremost that the services are working.
According to Orpo, there is already light at the end of the tunnel as some counties have managed to reverse their financial trajectories. Pohde, the well-being services county in North Ostrobothnia, for example has had “great experiences” moving forward with the reform work.
“This can be done,” he insisted.
Other counties, however, remain in deep financial trouble. YLE reminded in its report that over the past year as many as four chief executives of counties have stepped down, some criticising insufficient re the notion of granting well-being services more time to meet their financial obligations at a news conference held in Helsinki on Tuesday.
“I’m sure that the counties can implement new efficiency measures. In Finland, a lot has been invested in the walls. The counties generally still have expenses that aren’t necessary and where you can create savings.”
The Economic Policy Council also identified difficulties with recruiting physicians as one major obstacle for guaranteeing a sufficient level of health care services in each well-being services county. The government has decided to increase reimbursements for private health care, but – according to the independent expert body – the decision will not necessarily alleviate the shortage as it will likely increase demand for physicians in the private sector.
The council instead urged the government to better allocate the labour input of physicians, expand education opportunities in medicine and attract skilled foreign employees.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
- Next Article Decline in Finnish house prices slowed almost to a complete halt in December
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
