Savonlinna hospital performed joint replacements for other welfare regions against ministry rules

The South Savo welfare region, Eloisa, may have to halt joint replacement surgeries in Savonlinna earlier than planned after misinterpreting a 2024 directive from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, reports Yle.

The ministry had prohibited joint replacement surgeries at Savonlinna, Kemi, Oulainen, and Salo hospitals, with a transitional exception allowing procedures only if they reduced waiting times within the same welfare region. Eloisa, however, performed surgeries for patients from other regions—including 176 out of 525 cases last year—under a now-rejected interpretation that allowed cutting queues anywhere in Finland.

Eloisa’s CEO Santeri Seppälä confirmed the region had partnered with North Karelia for 200 surgeries, citing financial benefits in the “hundreds of thousands of euros annually.” The ministry clarified this week that Eloisa’s approach violated the rules, which permit transitional surgeries only until June 2028—and solely for local waiting lists.

Seppälä stated Eloisa would assess the financial and operational impact “in the coming weeks,” expressing regret over losing the chance to reduce backlogs elsewhere. Critics, including MP Ville Väyrynen, had previously accused Eloisa of artificially sustaining its surgery unit with external funding.

Finland performs roughly 26,000 joint replacements yearly, with 7,000 for working-age patients. Demand is projected to rise, according to the Finnish Arthroplasty Association.