I wish we would see more of this here in the US. When the politicians that we elect fail to do their job, they should resign from office and go back to doing whatever it was they were doing before taking office. In this instance, the Finnish government failed to pass healthcare reform and the government is now dissolving.
The Finnish government resigns after a social and health care reform has failed. In addition, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä (C) will submit his resignation application. The reform has been the government’s largest and most important project, state Finnish media.
This is a huge disappointment for me, says Juha Sipilä.
The care reform consists of two packages and would mean several changes, writes Swedish Yle. The fact that it fell is such a great loss for the Finnish government that it has now submitted its resignation application.
President Sauli Niinistö has approved the government’s resignation request and asked the government to continue as expedition government until a new minister has been appointed.
Faster and cheaper care
The social and health care reform has been the government’s heart project. Juha Sipilä has on several occasions signaled that he will submit the government’s resignation application in case it should fail.
The goal of the reform must have been cheaper and faster care and close cooperation between primary and specialist care, writes Hufvudstadsbladet.
However, the reform has consisted of several parts and has been a huge package - too large according to many. The government has wanted all parts to be ready, or none of them.
“Again, there were fundamental issues that seemed to be obstructed,” said the outgoing Prime Minister at a press conference on Friday and apologized to those who worked on the reform.
You have not done it just for duty on behalf of the service, but by the whole heart, says Juha Sipilä.
Several failures
For 14 years, various governments in the country have tried to reform the health care system in the country, but all have failed, says Yle.
The reform package includes free choice of care and that the public and private sector should cost as much. In addition, the most demanding care should be concentrated to 12 hospitals, according to Hufvudstadsbladet,
The critics argue that this reform will lead to an uneven care around the country, which will benefit residents in the big cities but disadvantage them in rural areas. In addition, there is concern that private healthcare companies take over and provide substandard care.
Retires five weeks before election
The Sipilä government resigns when it is just over a month left to the parliamentary elections that take place on April 14.
Juha Sipilä now wants other parties to come up with concrete proposals during the election campaign, says SVT’s correspondent Hasse Svens.