Ambulance fees may rise under government proposal

The North Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county, known as Pohde, faces a €3.4 million funding cut for ambulance services if parliament approves a government bill on reorganising financing for emergency transport.

Parliament’s second reading of the bill takes place today. The proposal would shift full financial responsibility for emergency transport from the Social Insurance Institution (Kela) to the wellbeing services counties, funded by state allocations.

Pohde would lose the most, followed by South Savo at €1.3 million. Northern regions like Kainuu and Lapland would receive the highest per-capita funding under the new model.

Under the change, wellbeing services counties would set their own patient fees for ambulance transport. Currently, patients pay a €25 co-payment. Pohde’s acting emergency services director Mirja Annala said fees could rise to around €40, though no decision has been made. Fees would count toward the patient’s annual out-of-pocket maximum.

Annala noted the cuts affect Pohde’s overall funding, not just emergency services. The county is currently in redundancy negotiations, with the impact on emergency services still unclear.

Most provisions would take effect in early 2028.