Healthcare access, service availability to be improved: Minister

Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru on Monday talked about the development of primary healthcare services over the next few years, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release.

Speaking at a press conference on the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme the minister pointed out that the aim of the programme is to support the wellbeing services counties in preparing and introducing new health and social services centres where people can get the help they need more swiftly in a broad-based manner.

When the acts concerning the health and social services reform start entering into force from 2023 onwards, the wellbeing services counties will assume responsibility for organising health, social and rescue services.

Meanwhile, an additional call for government grant applications in 2021 opened on Monday, 16 August, for those projects in the future wellbeing services counties that were awarded government grants in 2020.

The aim of the grants is to complement, expand and continue the ongoing project packages in each wellbeing services county as required by their current situation.

The additional call for applications places particular emphasis on measures promoting the availability of services in primary healthcare, social welfare, mental healthcare and multi-sectoral rehabilitation. All projects must improve access to care and ensure the introduction of psychosocial methods for all age groups.

The wellbeing services counties will plan the operating models, local service points, e-services and any services they intend to centralise so that they meet the needs of the population, ensuring the accessibility and availability of primary level services