Second Reading of the Draft Act amending the Act on the Organization of Health Services and Other Acts (Bill 401 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-05-30 01:01
Total Speeches: 5
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 5/5 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item was the second reading of the draft act on amending the Health Services Organization Act and other acts, initiated by the Government of the Republic. Karmen Joller, a member of the Social Affairs Committee, gave an overview of the committee's work, noting that the aim of the draft act is to ensure legal clarity and coherence in the health sector legislation. The draft act addressed several important topics, including the postponement of the mandatory liability insurance for healthcare service providers by four months, the clarification of the concepts of family doctor care and primary healthcare, and the establishment of state fees for tobacco products and specialists providing services independently (physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychological treatment providers). Although the Estonian Medical Association submitted a protest regarding the postponement of the liability insurance, the committee found it to be justified due to the lack of preparation on the part of the insurers.
During the debates, Liisa-Ly Pakosta (Eesti 200 faction) focused on the issue of state fees for tobacco products. She emphasized that Estonia ranks first globally in the number of young vapers and second in the growth of tobacco product consumption, while simultaneously being the only EU country that has not yet requested duties from tobacco producers, thus leaving the costs to be borne by the taxpayer. Pakosta also criticized the failure to implement Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization's Tobacco Convention in Estonia. The leading committee reviewed 14 amendments, most of which were fully taken into account. Upon the proposal of the Social Affairs Committee, the second reading of the draft act was concluded.
Decisions Made 3
Following the proposal of the leading committee (the Social Affairs Committee), the second reading of the bill was concluded.
The Social Affairs Committee proposed taking the draft bill to its third reading on June 5th and holding the final vote on the bill.
All submitted amendments (14 in total) were either fully or substantially taken into account.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announces that today's 12th item on the agenda concerns the draft act initiated by the Government amending the Health Services Organization Act and other acts, and that Karmen Jolleri, a member of the Social Affairs Committee, is invited to serve as the rapporteur.
Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Karmen Joller gave a brief overview of the draft act amending the Health Services Organisation Act and other legislation. The draft proposes changes to liability insurance, the definitions of general practitioner care and primary healthcare, and state fees. She noted that the majority of the proposed amendments were approved by consensus, and the next steps involve concluding the second reading and preparing for the third.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Many thanks to the rapporteur; since this is the first reading, confusion arose regarding the second reading, and Liisa-Ly Pakosta of the Eesti 200 faction requests to participate in the discussions.
Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Liisa-Ly Pakosta thanked the members of the Social Affairs Committee for supporting the amendments put forward by Eesti 200, noting that two amendments were withdrawn to clarify terminology in the Tobacco Act. The discussion covered the introduction of proportional state fees on tobacco products within the framework of EU and Estonian law, as well as the growth of youth vaping in light of OECD and WHO data. She further stated that, until now, these fees have been absent and health costs have been covered by taxpayers, a situation which the Eesti 200 amendments should rectify, allowing the bill to finally reach the third reading and provide a worthy addition to the health fund.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi stated that all proposed amendments have been reviewed, and the lead committee decided to conclude the second reading of Draft Bill 401.