Finnish MP calls for end to hospital choice in specialist care

A Finnish MP has urged the removal of patient choice in non-emergency specialist healthcare, arguing it drives up costs and strains the system.

Markus Lohi, a Centre Party MP and deputy chair of the Lapland Wellbeing Services County, told Yle that allowing patients to select their hospital leads to unnecessary financial burdens. He said regional wellbeing services counties invoice each other at varying rates, inflating expenses.

“It is more important that people receive treatment than where they receive it,” Lohi said, adding that public finances require a review of all expenditures, including patient rights.

Merituuli Mähkä, a senior ministry official, countered that the issue lies in inconsistent billing practices, not patient choice itself. She acknowledged criticism over the fairness and transparency of inter-regional invoicing but said no legislative changes are planned.

“The maintenance of choice in non-emergency specialist care has been considered politically valuable and upheld across government terms,” Mähkä said.

Lohi clarified that his proposal reflects his personal view, not official party policy. He noted that standardising pricing nationwide could ease pressures, but solutions are not straightforward.

In Lapland, recent cuts at Kemi’s Länsi-Pohja Hospital have redirected patients from Rovaniemi to Oulu University Hospital, increasing costs for the region. Lohi suggested ending hospital choice could help preserve services in Kemi by allowing better distribution of patients between facilities.