Health Centers Close Due to Severe Staffing Shortages in Finland

This summer, an unprecedented number of health centers in Finland are closed due to staff shortages. According to a report by Yle, almost every welfare area in Finland has temporarily shut down health centers, with staff shortages being the most common reason. The summer closures caused by workforce shortages began three years ago in North Karelia, where six health centers were temporarily closed due to an inability to find staff despite efforts. A recent survey indicates that this phenomenon has now increased by twentyfold, affecting approximately 120 health centers in mainland Finland.

Responses from various welfare areas noted that staff vacation periods significantly contribute to summer closures. However, not all areas clarified why summer substitutes were not hired. Those interested can find information on their specific welfare area using a provided map, which indicates the extent of labor shortages impacting health center closures through color coding.

In North Savonia, the labor shortage has notably intensified, resulting in 16 health centers being closed this summer. Ritva Vitri, the service unit director for North Savonia, mentioned that finding substitutes, especially for small localities, has become increasingly challenging. Some residents, like nurse Susanna Iivonen from Kaavi, have started to accept this staffing shortage as the new normal.

Patients like Marja-Liisa Partanen, who traveled 25 kilometers from Tuusniemi to Kaavi for care, express concern over the implications of the labor shortage, particularly as the population ages. KT’s chief economist Juho Ruskoaho emphasized the serious nature of the healthcare workforce deficit, suggesting that thousands of job opportunities exist for nurses and doctors. Solutions may include increasing training positions and promoting immigration for healthcare professionals.

Silja Paavola, chair of the nursing union Super, argues that poor pay and heavy workloads contribute to the staff shortages. She advocates for improved work conditions and a shift in resource allocation within welfare areas to address the crisis effectively.