Healthcare workers march in Kuhmo to protest planned removal of inpatient beds

Around 50 healthcare workers marched in Kuhmo on Thursday to oppose a regional council decision that could eliminate inpatient beds at the town’s assessment and rehabilitation unit, Yle reports.

Protesters fear the Kainuu wellbeing services county’s regional council will overturn a recent board decision to restore the beds, a move that could also cost local jobs. Organiser and nurse Eija Peura told Yle that Kuhmo residents face unequal access compared to other parts of Kainuu, citing long travel distances—such as 100 kilometres to Kajaani for initial care, followed by further transfers—and income-based patient fees that deter many from seeking treatment.

Kuhmo’s municipal director Pinja Kyllönen said the town’s exclusion from inpatient services contrasts with nearby Sotkamo, which retains its beds despite similar regional needs. “Kuhmo is at a disadvantage not only in service availability but also in patient fees,” Kyllönen stated, noting that current fee structures under social welfare law have discouraged residents from accessing care.

The uncertainty has frustrated both staff and patients. The unit’s original closure in autumn 2024 sparked a similar protest, with workers carrying a coffin-shaped hospital bed through town. Kyllönen warned that fluctuating decisions undermine trust in regional service planning, especially as demand is projected to rise through 2040. Local resident Marika Tuomela called the issue “a question of equality,” stressing that the beds support both healthcare access and women’s employment in a town with few job opportunities.

The regional council will vote on the contested change programme—which carries a €600,000 annual cost—on Monday. The programme, required for state approval to address past deficits, previously passed the regional board by a narrow 6–5 vote, though funding sources for the added expense remain unspecified.