60 years old | “Staff shortages are a problem that can only be solved by staff,” says Markku Tervahauta, President and CEO of THL, and suggests that the solution be to facilitate labor migration.

Profession can be found in a suitable igniter at the right time. As a teenager Markku Tervahauta got into the Lahti fire department as an ambulance assistant for the summer – and found himself in significant work. Tasks and situations varied, judgment and stress tolerance were required.

“The driving license and first aid first and second were formally enough for the job. But the key to my future was that I got the idea of ​​working as a doctor, ”says Tervahauta in his office. He has been head of the Department of Health and Welfare since 2019. THL is an expert organization with more than a thousand employees, with annual budgets of 100 million euros.

In which direction does the CEO want to point the department?

“I have strived to promote two goals: better collaboration and customer orientation. When there are experts in many different fields in the house, we have to try to reduce the silage of these expertise, that is, too much isolation, and on the other hand, weed out all kinds of top-notch teacherism, ”he formulates.

“Increase collaboration between special expertise.”

Tar grave himself is an epidemiologist and public health scientist, and accustomed to operating in broad fields. Professor at the University of Kuopio Aulikki Nissinen had been a researcher in the North Karelia project against cardiovascular disease, and Nissinen captured his enthusiasm for a young medical practitioner.

“There was talk of an impact potential that was and is very high in public health work. Healthier eating habits have cleared up a huge number of life years for people, and of course we want to continue in the same direction, ”says Tervahauta.

THL and health care, as well as society as a whole, have been dominated by the struggle against covidium for two years.

“After gathering under the same coronal flag to defeat the pandemic rationally, regional connections and cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health have intensified.”

From the tar grave it goes without saying that there have been various stages and difficulties in combating the disease.

“There was little accurate information about the virus at first, and decisions had to put different aspects together. The key is the proportionality of the restrictions, the balance between controlling the disease and making life as normal as possible. I think it has gone reasonably well. ”

He is not very startled by the vaccine resistance that overshadows the corona fight. “Of course, the main thing is that high vaccine coverage has been achieved in Finland. Anti-campaigns talk more about international thought flows, which in turn are based on what you know. ”

Long the battle against covid has not yet been won, but the pandemic seems to be on the verge of extinction, Tar Grave thinks. However, we need to be prepared for the emergence of new viruses that are dangerous to humans. They are probably the enduring plagues of mankind.

Tervahauta thinks mainly about the great solution of our healthcare, the new sote model. Although he does not deny the possibility of uncertainties, even grievances, the solution reached is considered to be on the right track.

“In some welfare areas, the population base may be too small, but they can also be helped and supported by the resources of the five university hospital areas.”

“The boundary conditions are in order, but the shortage of staff is a problem that can only be solved by staff.”

As a partial solution to the dilemma, Tervahauta supports the facilitation of work-related immigration.

“But it should then be implemented in a coordinated, very systematic way.”