Access to medical care
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, information briefing
Date: 2025-01-22 14:42
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 11m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The focus of the planned meeting was on irregularities and time-critical challenges within the Estonian healthcare system, specifically regarding the accessibility of primary care and specialist physicians. The lack of primary care services, the aging of family doctors and questions surrounding their succession, the problem of long waiting times for specialist appointments, and the limited access to healthcare services in rural areas are creating a situation where many people are forced to turn to the emergency medical department instead. Efforts are underway to increase the number of family doctors and provide them with support, improve the working environment of collaborating health centers, and implement effective e-consultation solutions to better direct specialist demands to primary care. Furthermore, discussions were held regarding speeding up the queues at emergency departments in Tallinn and other regions of Estonia, as well as the health insurance fund’s role in planning local specialist accessibility at a regional level. Thirdly, the funding of cardiac surgery and the impact of specialist restrictions on operations were addressed, highlighting the need for additional funding and system reforms to better meet treatment needs and ensure patients receive timely assistance.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made during this session. Only near-term measures and planned directions for improving access to healthcare services were presented, and the need to clarify further decisions and funding was emphasized.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Vladimir Arhipov (ID 0nFdBnElPyE). His position is other (description of the role representing a minor party or faction is missing from the data). He repeatedly asked questions and clarifications regarding the accessibility of healthcare services, the supply of family doctors, and the waiting times for specialist appointments, citing specific examples of problems occurring in Tallinn and elsewhere, emphasizing the need to pay greater attention to regional planning.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi will ask the next question to Health Minister Riina Sikkut, and before giving the floor to Vladimir Arhipov, he thanks all members of the Riigikogu who have ensured that during the information hour all participating ministers may ask questions.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov notes that in Estonia there is a significant shortage of doctors, especially among general practitioners; waiting times for specialists are long, and the availability of health care services in rural areas has deteriorated. He also calls on the government to find measures to promote the younger generation of general practitioners, to ensure better access for the elderly, and to reduce the burden on emergency services.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut noted that the shortage of family doctors is the biggest concern, and Estonia will address this by strengthening primary care: extending family doctors' training to four years, increasing training slots, and launching an incubation period and mentorship for young doctors; raising locum pay and distance allowances; investing in health centers and training additional nurses, nutrition and addiction counselors; expanding the role of nurses to reduce the workload on family doctors; and to reach specialists, e-consultations will be used, where a specialist provides treatment recommendations at the primary level or accepts the patient.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks and asks Vladimir Arhipov for a clarifying question.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov thanks you for the reply and notes that queues at emergency departments can stretch up to ten hours, and asks whether the situation can be resolved more quickly, because this is a very big concern for people.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that queues at emergency departments are mainly in Tallinn, and there are plans to add an additional triage nurse appointment and to use the GP advice line so that next year specialist appointments can be allocated according to regional needs and to increase local specialist care in hospitals, which the Health Insurance Fund purchases according to regional needs.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He invited a member of the audience to pose one additional question and turned to Lauri Laats for that.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats asks the minister why advanced cardiac surgery and operating rooms are standing idle due to a lack of funding, even though the technology and doctors are ready to operate, and asks for a solution, because people's lives are at stake.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Health Minister Riina Sikkut said that in Estonian healthcare funding covers about 94–96% of the estimated need for treatment, which means that every 20th person cannot receive treatment within a year, and extra funding would help increase capacity and shorten treatment waiting lists, but by specialty the situation is different, and there is a need for both training specialists and ensuring more efficient use of the system.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks and informs that he will stop dealing with this question.