Health minister calls for review of SÁÁ governance

Health Minister Alma D. Möller says the situation within addiction treatment organisation SÁÁ is a serious concern and that its governance structure will likely need to be reviewed, mbl.is reports.

Conflict has emerged within SÁÁ, while the professional independence of its operations has been questioned. Key managers have left, and employees have expressed no confidence in both the organisation’s chairman and executive management.

SÁÁ’s main board has instructed the executive management to bring in an external party to restore working peace, safety and trust within the organisation.

“If things continue as they are, a great deal of knowledge and experience will of course be lost with these managers,” Alma said. She said she had held a great deal of confidence in them, but that ensuring the continuity of services was the immediate priority.

The Directorate of Health is monitoring the safety and quality of the services, while Health Insurance is monitoring whether the agreement with SÁÁ is being implemented properly, Alma said.

She said she had confirmed several weeks ago that the supervisory bodies were monitoring the situation and had since met with SÁÁ’s executive management. “I am very concerned about this situation,” she said.

Asked whether it was appropriate for such an important healthcare organisation to operate under the management of an association, Alma said professional work should be led and managed by professionals.

“I have no authority to intervene there, and there is in fact nothing in the agreement that specifies exactly how this administration should be arranged. But it may well be necessary to draw a clearer distinction,” she said.

Alma said the situation was particularly unfortunate because relations and trust between the ministry, Health Insurance and SÁÁ had become very good. The parties had also recently signed a long-term agreement that she described as a landmark deal.

She said she had believed the organisation was operating smoothly and was disappointed by the developments.

Alma said SÁÁ had made a significant contribution to addiction treatment and that its work had developed well as knowledge in the field had advanced. However, she added that the organisation’s governance structure would likely need to be examined.

Asked whether she trusted SÁÁ’s board, Alma said she was disappointed by the current situation but could not comment further.