The government’s goal is to dismantle the public social and healthcare system, and for this reason, the government has not taken any action to improve the situation of the welfare areas or people’s access to services. Instead, as part of the dismantling process, the government is extending the treatment guarantee to three months. At the same time, it is funneling hundreds of millions of taxpayers‘ money in Kela reimbursements to private multinational companies that engage in tax evasion.
The Orpo government has justified the transfer of tax money to stock companies by claiming it would alleviate waiting times for healthcare services, but this has had no impact on reducing the queues. The money generously distributed by the government has ended up in the profits of these companies, benefiting, among others, the government’s affluent friends in Westend.
The increase in Kela reimbursements and the extension of the treatment guarantee have been criticized even by experts, and even the Medical Association has called on the government to reverse these decisions. However, the government disregards experts, research, and people’s access to healthcare.
By extending the treatment guarantee, the government is cutting 132 million euros from welfare areas. However, Finland was set to receive 178 million euros from the EU to promote the implementation of the treatment guarantee and to address the healthcare backlog caused by the pandemic. The condition for receiving this support is that 80% of those who need treatment are seen within a week in the last 25 quarters. The 3/24 target was almost achieved (79%).
It seems very ideological to cut the treatment guarantee, which according to research has actually sped up people’s access to healthcare, unlike the tax money being funneled to private companies.
Extending the treatment guarantee is not enough for the government, as it also hinders citizens‘ access to services by raising customer fees by up to 45%. This is despite the fact that half a million bills were in debt collection last year. In Kanta-Häme, this affects nearly 15,000 bills per year. These fees are incurred for the use of essential basic services. The government is also raising the prices of medications and co-payments.
It is worth considering whether the generous campaign funding given by health giants to the right-wing has an impact on the government’s decision-making, or whether companies like Attendo, Esperi, Mehiläinen, and Terveystalo have strong ties to the National Coalition Party.
It is also no coincidence that due to neglect by the care giants, the mandated nurse-to-patient ratio is not being adhered to.
Next time the government claims its goal is to save the welfare state, it may not be wise to believe it. The government’s goal is to create an American model where healthcare is provided by the private sector if you have money or insurance.
The authors, Auvinen from the Left Alliance in Häme and Viksten, a substitute municipal councilor from Tammela, have shared their insights on these critical issues.