Sally Leskinen calls for legislative change to wellness funding in South Karelia

Sally Leskinen, the director of the South Karelia health and wellness district, is calling for a change to the law governing funding for wellness regions. She has made her demands known to Finance Minister Riikka Purra and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, stating that the anticipated savings for the coming years cannot be achieved on the current timeline without neglecting some legally mandated services for residents.

Leskinen has sent an email outlining two alternative amendments to the wellness district law. She believes these proposals would provide a solution that enables South Karelia to meet its goals for both balancing the budget and delivering required services.

The first of Leskinen’s proposed changes would permit wellness districts an additional two years to address deficits, as current legislation mandates that deficits must be addressed by the end of 2026. Alternatively, she suggests a preemptive assessment procedure that would also allow for a time extension.

Without this extended timeline for balancing the budget, the wellness district anticipates having to lay off a significant number of employees. Leskinen emphasizes that her calls for legislative change are based on carefully analyzed financial data, as the South Karelia district commissioned a report from the Nordic Healthcare Group that indicated adhering to the original timeline would be irresponsible, leading to substantial service reductions and widespread layoffs.

Leskinen has intensified her demands by stating she would resign if the current deficit reduction obligation remains unchanged, asserting that her commitment lies with providing quality and responsible care for residents.

Currently, there are no plans to amend the funding law for wellness regions, as the government has indicated it is not preparing for such changes. However, the government previously responded to financial pressures from wellness regions by providing closer oversight to those facing economic difficulties, and discussions may address other areas’ financial challenges next year.