The Fragile Welfare State

 It's strike season here in Finland, unions are throwing their weight around and a peculiar situation is brewing in the healthcare sector.

 Healthcare services here are mainly provided by the state and municipals. The nurses are demanding a 24% pay increase. Legally the nurses have a rather limited possibility to go on strike. They can do it, but they still have to maintain the functionality of the healthcare services. So it is not an effective strike.

So now the nurses are threatening a mass resignation. A little under 13,000 of the country's 25,000 nurses would resign.

Predictably, the left is applauding this action. Especially now that the 'right' (the Finnish right being left of the Democrats) is in power.

But all this leaves the average people in a predicament. The healthcare services are already spread thin and this mass resignation would probably cripple the system. The private sector is small and unable to handle the influx of patients. And many people can't afford private care, since their taxes should have covered it already.

I can't help but wonder once more how fragile the welfare state really is. What is painted as warm and cuddly 'free' healthcare, is really a bureucratic behemoth. People are normally forced to seek private care on many occasions (physical therapy, dental work, optometric care and pretty much any specialized care), even though it is supposed to be provided by the state. That is bad enough, but now the whole thing is about to come crashing down.

 I better not get sick any time soon...

Posted: Wed, Oct 17 2007 3:51 AM by Libertas est Veritas with 3 comment(s)

Comments

# re: The Fragile Welfare State @Thursday, October 18, 2007 10:15 AM

Libertas,

Is it illegal in Finland to practice medicine privately? I guess by your comment about the private sector being small that it isn't illegal, so what is to prevent those 13,000 nurses from going to work for private sector physicians?

~ Ron

Ronorama

# re: The Fragile Welfare State @Thursday, October 18, 2007 10:21 AM

I love going to the local car bureau (dmv, bmv, etc). Those are the most helpful people around. I can't wait 'til America has universal health care run by the likes that run the DMV. Or the post office, maybe we should have the post office run our hospitals. Remember all those postmen that dumped thousands of peoples mail? Those guys should run our health care system. While we are at it we should out law Fed/EX and UPS. We need to help people realize how great the post office is by not allowing them any other option!

Peter

# re: The Fragile Welfare State @Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:42 AM

Practicing medicine privately isn't illegal, but the private sector isn't capable of handling a large influx of patients. Theoretically the nurses and doctors could switch to the private sector, but the private sector doesn't have the facilities for serious cases.

Of course the financial issue is a problem as well, since most people have to rely on government provide medicine. They can't afford to pay and don't have insurance. And I doubt the government will be refunding taxes so people could pay for private care.

Libertas est Veritas