Savonlinna and Kemi defend regional hospitals against proposed healthcare reforms

Savonlinna and Kemi are actively defending their regional hospitals amidst concerns over proposed healthcare reforms. The Savonlinna City Council has decided to file a complaint with the Chancellor of Justice regarding the so-called hospital law. The city’s mayor, Janne Laine, presented the case during Monday’s meeting, which will be conducted in collaboration with Kemi, where a similar issue regarding the discontinuation of round-the-clock specialized care is imminent.

In Savonlinna, there are worries that the proposed hospital regulations do not adequately consider the negative impacts, particularly the potential violation of residents’ basic rights if emergency specialized care is reduced. Changes could, for instance, complicate patient transportation, and there is concern that nursing training in Savonlinna might suffer or even end completely.

The complaint emphasizes that a separate law passed in spring 2023 allows for two joint emergency hospitals and uninterrupted specialized care in the South Savo and Lapland wellbeing regions. The abrupt shift in policy is described in the complaint as severe, with officials stating, “It’s a matter of life and death.”

The Kemi municipality has yet to decide on filing a complaint but plans to discuss the matter in an upcoming city council meeting. Kemi’s Mayor, Matti Ruotsalainen, indicated he would propose filing a complaint, highlighting a lack of impact assessment related to the changes, which he believes undermines democratic processes and may even contravene the constitution.

Such complaints to the Chancellor of Justice are rare, and their past outcomes have been limited. However, Laine asserts that Savonlinna will exhaust all legal avenues to ensure the protection of citizens’ rights in the decision-making process. The preparation for the complaint is set to proceed next week, with the legislative action expected to be determined this autumn.