Editorial Medical centers should finally have access to GPs

Editorial|Editorial

Kannelmäen and the outsourcing of Ruoholahti health centers to a private service provider has accelerated access to emergency care In Helsinki. However, the users of the service have not been alone satisfied.

There are both good and bad experiences with outsourcing, both at health centers and other SOTE services. One benefit is that competition can strain the municipality’s own production to improve its operations. However, outsourcing is not a magic trick that will fix all the problems.

Politicians like to argue about outsourcing because it allows them to profile themselves on the right-left axis. However, more attention should be paid to how the functioning of all health centers could be improved.

One one of the best ways studied is the self-medication model. The patient should be able to choose their own doctor-nurse partner at the health center. According to studies, a continuous treatment relationship improves treatment results, especially in chronic diseases, and at the same time curbs the increase in costs.

The self-medical model has been successfully tested in several municipalities. It was also widely tested with the support of Kela in the 1990s with excellent results. The final report recommended the introduction of the model, but there was a lack of political will.

In many European countries, GPs are professionals. In Finland, a doctor’s work at a health center is more like a hospital’s daily routine than a general practitioner’s appointment. It’s no wonder if it’s hard to get doctors to stay in this job.

Fresh Minister of Family and Basic Services Aki Lindén (sd) once implemented a self-medication system in Pori, where he worked as a leading doctor at the health center. The shortage of doctors disappeared in half a year.

Now, Minister Lindén would have an excellent opportunity to promote the introduction of the model in new areas of prosperity.

The editorials are HS’s statements on a topical issue. The writings are prepared by HS’s editorial staff and reflect the magazine principle.