Finance Minister Riikka Purra assured Parliament that social and healthcare services will be protected despite financial difficulties in welfare regions. She made these comments during Thursday's parliamentary question time.
Purra stated the government will ensure both funding and service delivery across all circumstances. She confirmed some welfare regions will receive extended deadlines to cover their deficits.
These regions must reach surplus targets this year. Assessment procedures are examining both financial and service conditions. Further decisions may follow these evaluations.
Purra noted strong divergence between different welfare regions. Some areas will meet targets on schedule while others won't achieve them at all.
The opposition expressed unified concern about the welfare region situation. MP Aki Lindén said emergencies are occurring across Finland.
Health services face cuts, staff are being laid off, and treatment queues are lengthening. Lindén calculated the government's welfare region cuts equal the cost of 10,000 workers.
He asked if the government plans to remain inactive during this welfare region crisis.
MP Saara Hyrkkö said welfare regions shouldn't face choices between breaking financial rules or constitutional law. She questioned how basic rights can be protected when laws and funding don't align.
Markus Lohi proposed establishing a parliamentary working group to reform financing for the next electoral term. Purra showed little enthusiasm for this idea.
She noted the social and healthcare reform took years to develop across multiple government terms. The current government bears responsibility for the situation.
Purra called the entire welfare region model poor and said there are too many regions. No dramatic changes to the model will occur during this government term.
She confirmed the entire system will be reviewed during the next government period.
This situation highlights Finland's ongoing struggle to balance regional autonomy with national service standards. The government faces pressure to stabilize welfare regions without major structural changes during its current term.