Central Finland's welfare region CEO Jan Tollet has resigned after losing the board's confidence. He stated he no longer has the trust required to continue leading the organization.
The region entered state-directed financial oversight earlier this year. An assessment team now recommends major service cuts and restructuring.
Why is Central Finland's healthcare system in crisis? The region recorded Finland's largest budget deficit last year. Administrative Chief Physician Petri Kivinen said current projections show an 80 million euro shortfall.
Kivinen explained that covering the deficit would require closing all service points or dismissing half of the 12,000 staff members. He noted the situation worsened due to rising service purchase costs and inflation.
The assessment team suggests Central Finland should transfer rare specialized medical treatments to university hospitals. The nearest such facility is in Kuopio, over 100 kilometers from the region's main population centers.
Regional Board Chair Maria Kaisa Aula will convene an emergency meeting Monday to address the leadership change. The board oversees one of Finland's most financially troubled healthcare regions.
This resignation highlights the structural challenges facing Finland's decentralized healthcare system. Regions struggle with cost containment while maintaining service accessibility across sparse populations.