Finnish wellness region leaders voice concerns over proposed care guarantee extension impacts

Finnish Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Kaisa Juuso, stated in a previous interview that if the government’s proposed extension of the care guarantee is implemented, any delays in accessing healthcare services would likely fall under the responsibility of wellness regions. Yle, a Finnish broadcaster, asked three wellness region leaders about the potential impacts of extending the care guarantee.

Ilkka Luoma, director of the North Ostrobothnia wellness region, expressed concerns that amendments to healthcare laws and funding cuts established in economic negotiations could lead to longer wait times for treatments. He advocated against these cuts, emphasizing a commitment to improving access to care despite ongoing financial constraints.

Petri Virolainen, director of the Päijät-Häme wellness region, aimed to avoid extending wait times for primary healthcare or dental services. He highlighted that any achieved savings could be marginal, with potential increased costs arising in the long term.

Marja-Liisa Mäntymaa, chief physician in the Kymenlaakso wellness region, noted that ongoing efforts are in place to meet the existing care guarantee. However, she cautioned that the new regulations could reduce funding, complicating their ability to maintain current levels of prompt care.

When discussing the impact of potential staff regulation loosening on the need for more expensive specialized healthcare, Luoma stressed the risk of delayed access to care leading to unaddressed health issues that could later require more specialized treatment, while Mäntymaa echoed the fear of continuity in primary care worsening, potentially increasing reliance on specialized services.

Addressing workforce shortages, Luoma acknowledged significant staff shortages in healthcare. While easing regulatory requirements could partially alleviate this issue, Virolainen argued that deregulating staffing norms could allow for more resource allocation where needed, ensuring patient care remains a priority.