A suitable number of wellbeing regions would be 6–11, according to the researchers. Photo: Laura Ukkonen / Lehtikuva
- Next Article Savonlinna man remanded over fire that killed partner and three children
Finland should reduce its 21 wellbeing services counties to between 6 and 11, according to a government-commissioned report published on Wednesday. The expert group says the current system is financially unsustainable and administratively inefficient.
The interim evaluation, led by Marina Erhola, former deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, proposes structural reforms to the delivery of healthcare, social services, and emergency care.
The key recommendation is to re-evaluate the number of autonomous health regions, which the experts argue should range between 6 and 11, based on international benchmarks and population size.
The panel includes researchers from multiple universities and institutes. Their findings suggest that most current regions are too small to independently provide comprehensive services and manage their finances. Only four regions exceed a population of 500,000, which the experts identify as a reasonable baseline for sustainable operations.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called the recommendation justified and said the report provides a strong basis for political debate. His party originally supported a five-region model before accepting the 21-county structure as a compromise in 2023.
Three regions, Itä-Uusimaa, Central Finland and Lapland, are already under enhanced state supervision for financial reasons. The Ministry of Finance began assessment procedures earlier this year. Several other regions have been granted more time to stabilise their finances.
The report proposes extending deficit correction deadlines to 2028, provided detailed recovery plans are approved. The panel warns that without significant structural changes, the current setup may lead to ad hoc mergers and inconsistent development.
The report also reintroduces a previously shelved proposal to reorganise Finland’s hospital and emergency care network. It recommends reviving the 2024 model, which would retain the five existing university hospitals, support 5–8 central hospitals with round-the-clock specialised services, and convert the remaining facilities into acute hospitals with more limited capabilities.
That plan was politically rejected last year due to resistance from local politicians seeking to protect their regional hospitals. The report now suggests revisiting it before the 2027 parliamentary elections, when major health policy decisions are expected to be made.
The report outlines three governance options: stronger regional autonomy, increased state control, or maintaining the current model. If Finland opts to enhance regional self-governance, the experts recommend granting wellbeing services counties the right to levy taxes. This would provide them with independent revenue streams but would also complicate the national tax system.
Minister for Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen immediately rejected the idea. She said taxation rights would increase the overall tax burden, reduce system transparency and require extensive equalisation payments between regions.
Oversight of the regions is currently split between three ministries. The report suggests assigning full responsibility to a single authority to reduce fragmentation.
HT
- Next Article Savonlinna man remanded over fire that killed partner and three children
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
