Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

With reference to its previous observation where it asked the Government to adopt legislation so as to extend coverage for dental care to the whole of the adult population, the Committee notes with satisfaction from the Government’s report that, since 1 December 2002, the entire population is covered by dental care under sickness insurance.

The Committee recalls that since the middle of 1990s the workers organizations of Finland – the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK) and the Confederation of Unions for Professionals and Managerial Staff in Finland (AKAVA) – have been expressing their concern, in the light of Articles 13, 17 and 30 of the Convention, regarding the insufficient funding and staffing of the public health system, the lowering of the quality of the municipal health services, the reduction of the preventive health care and the consequent transfer of medical care to the more expensive private sector providers, accompanied by the reduction of the level of compensation and the increase of the patient’s own share in the cost of the necessary medical care. In their new observations attached to the Government’s latest report for the period ending 31 May 2007, these organizations maintain that: the resources of municipalities for preventive and basic health care are inadequate, the public health service suffers from a shortage of doctors and nursing staff, access to health care is unequal and there are substantial differences in the health conditions of different socio-economic groups. The Committee deals with the issues raised by the workers’ organizations in a request addressed directly to the Government.