Andersson criticizes Orpo’s government for wasteful healthcare spending in Finland
Li Andersson, the leader of the Left Alliance, criticized Prime Minister Orpo’s government for what she describes as a waste of taxpayers’ money on private healthcare services. Andersson calls on the government to abandon its €500 million investment plan in KELA reimbursements, urging that these funds should instead be allocated to improving primary healthcare.
“We are increasingly using tax money to fund private doctor visits for individuals who already have the means to access private services,” Andersson stated. The Left Alliance’s parliamentary group is currently convening in Joensuu, and Andersson, who is stepping down as party leader, also urged the government to explore the possibility of completely eliminating the use of temporary workers in social and healthcare sectors. “At the very least, there needs to be a price cap on outsourced services. The government has been aware of these issues for a year and hasn’t proposed any solutions,” she added.
According to Andersson, the government has betrayed its social and healthcare promises, evidenced by significant layoffs in regions despite an ongoing staff shortage. To alleviate the funding issues faced by welfare regions, Andersson proposes granting them tax authority, demanding that preparations for this be initiated as soon as possible.
“This has always been our stance, blocked by the SDP and Centre Party in the previous electoral period,” she recalled. Andersson’s summer meeting marks her last as she prepares to relinquish her leadership role, with a new leader to be elected in October. Currently, two candidates have registered: Laura Meriluoto and Minja Koskela, both first-term members of parliament. Koskela criticized the government’s environmental policies, accusing them of shirking responsibility. Candidate registration will close at the beginning of September, and new leadership for the parliamentary group will be elected tomorrow. Veronica Honkasalo has expressed her availability to continue as vice-chair, while no challengers have yet come forward.