Finland’s regional health authorities face a bleak financial future, with combined losses for this year expected to reach around 860 million euros.

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Two opposition parties – the Center Party and Movement Now – have tabled a joint motion of no confidence in the government over its management of Finnish health and social services.

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, the leader of the Center Party Antti Kaikkonen said government cuts to the sector cannot continue.

“The Center Party would not make cuts to health care and social services,” Kaikkonen said. “We would give county health departments (regional health authorities) more time to get their finances in order, so that health centers and other local services are not forced to close.”

A report provided to Yle by the Ministry of Finance in August found that Finnish regional health authorities facing a bleak financial future — with combined losses for this year expected to climb to around €860 million.

Party colleague Kaikkonen Eeva Kalli said the motion of no confidence was a “cry for help” from the health and social care sector.

“Local services are moving away or could be completely disrupted in some places,” Kalli said, adding that continued cuts to services would come at a high cost, both in human and economic terms.

“Health care departments are entering or exiting layoff negotiations, even though there is a shortage of nurses, doctors and other professionals. Small businesses in the health care sector have also found themselves struggling. At this rate, health and social services will be under threat,” Kalli said.

Harry Harkimoleader of Movement Now and sole MP of the party, declared at the same press conference that people’s confidence in health care and social services is plummeting.

“Finns should be able to be sure that if they need treatment or care, they will receive it. When people have worked and paid their taxes for a long time, they have the right to be sure that they will get it. ‘Help when they need it,'” Harkimo said, adding that the government’s austerity measures are not working.

“It cannot happen that people cannot see a doctor, that they wait in line for months for surgery or that the elderly are abandoned at home. There is more lack of money than of staff, but you just have to find the money.” he said.

Center Party leader Kaikkonen noted that although other opposition parties also oppose the government’s policies, they have different solutions to deal with them and therefore did not join the motion of censure .

Priya Ramachandran D’souza And Zena Iovino discuss whether or not you need private health insurance in this edition of the All Points North podcast. Listen hereon Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.

Do you need private health insurance in Finland?

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