Hearing regarding the care reform (no 719)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting.
Date: 2025-05-12 18:56
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 55
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 8m
AI Summaries: 55/55 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu discussed, within the agenda item concerning parliamentary questions, the question submitted on February 13, 2025, by Members of the Riigikogu Lauri Laats, Aleksei Jevgrafov, Vladimir Arhipov, and Vadim Belobrovtsev regarding the care reform (question no. 719). The aim was to obtain explanations and an action plan from the minister concerning the implementation of the care reform, based on a review by the National Audit Office which pointed to problems with the reform's sustainability and financing. A key topic was that a place in a care home should be accessible for the price of an average pension, and the recently described price increases and financing models may jeopardize this objective; the discussion also included transparency in the formation of prices, the possibility for local governments to influence pricing, and the plan to conduct an impact analysis by the end of 2026.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made; the discussion continues, and further responses and potential measures depend on the results of an impact assessment that will be completed by the end of 2026.
Most Active Speaker
The most active participant stood out as Lauri Laats (pid 5VNfkRwGZMI), who dominated the discussion through his contributions and surveys, covering a wide spectrum of topics related to the care reform; his role was an independent and critical speech, focusing on both the allocation of costs as well as questions of quality and competition. In the discussion, he is described as “other” (neither firmly left-wing nor right-wing in terms of preferences).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
We have reached the second item: an inquiry No. 719 concerning the care reform, submitted on 13 February 2025 by Riigikogu members Lauri Laats, Aleksei Jevgrafovi, Vladimir Arhipovi and Vadim Belobrovtsevi, and on behalf of the inquirers we request that our good colleague Lauri Laatsi present at the Riigikogu's rostrum.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats submitted a seven-question parliamentary inquiry to the Minister of Social Affairs in light of a National Audit Office audit to ensure the sustainability of the eldercare reform, and asked about concrete steps and an action plan to curb the uncontrolled rise in nursing home prices and to ensure the real accessibility of the service to people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks and informs that Anastassia probably has a note for the chair of the meeting, and invites Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti's speech expresses concern about why ministers participate in Riigikogu debates and why parliamentary inquiries are submitted, but during negotiations they do not want to listen to the positions of members of parliament, citing the recent case concerning Jürgen Ligi.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, said that the aim of the round of inquiries is to obtain answers from the minister, and the answers have been received, after which he will forward them to Karmen Joller for the next step.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
The report describes, in order to meet the objectives of the care reform, measures to control price growth, to improve the transparency of the funding model and pricing, and to involve local authorities, as well as the conduct of forecast impact analyses, so that the availability and quality of nursing-home services are in line with the level of the average pension.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanked the audience, announced that there were questions, and asked Vadim Belobrovtsev to take the floor.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev notes that the reform was carried out before he became a member of the Riigikogu and a minister, and it creates problems, which is why he submitted a parliamentary inquiry and asks how the reform could have been carried out in such a way that no problems would have arisen, or whether it was even necessary to implement such a reform in that form.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
In my opinion, the care reform has progressed, there are fewer problems, and about 1,000 more people are receiving nursing home services; the pay of care workers has grown faster than the country's average wage.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi turns to Lauri Laatsi and asks him.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats says that the goal set during the Reform Party's era to make a place in a nursing home affordable for the average pension has collapsed, the quality has not risen, and the growth in the number of caregivers stems from a lack of qualifications, and he asks how the shortage of qualified labor will be addressed.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller emphasized three main objectives: reducing the cost burden of round-the-clock care services, providing a higher-quality service, and expanding in-home support services to prevent the deterioration of care needs and to enable people to stay at home longer.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Vladimir Arhipov to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov claims that the biggest winner of the care reform is the service-providing company, and asks whether about 60 million euros, which is 12% higher than last year's allocation for local governments, has already reached local municipalities or is still on the way.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Karmen Joller said that the local government must show where the money is being spent; if questions arise, the answer should be provided in writing, and the budget should be reviewed if necessary and discussed whether more services could be provided and who would be responsible for that.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Anti Allast.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas said that €4,800–€9,000 per year is not a small amount, and although in Tallinn this is common, in southeastern Estonia it is a lot of money, but due to the shortage of nursing homes prices and profits may be astronomical, and he asked what the ministry plans to do to increase competition or supply.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
In pricing nursing homes, Social Affairs Minister Karmen Joller advised municipalities to carefully review the costing model, ask about the purpose of each cost and whether it is necessary or just “nice to have,” to find a compromise with limited funds so that services are accessible to as many people as possible, and to involve the Estonian Social Insurance Board and the Ministry of Social Affairs so that the model can be adjusted as needed and negotiations strengthened.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is simply an invitation for Priit Sibul to come up on stage.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul notes that the care reform does not live up to its promises, and that securing a nursing-home place for pensioners has not materialized; local municipalities are burdened and dissatisfied with the reform, which is why Tartu has turned to the court, and there is a need for the minister's recommendations to find a reasonable solution.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
In her address, Social Minister Karmen Joller said that the reform is new and young, and she hopes that for the cost of the average pension one day a nursing home place will be available, while noting that the Tartu court dispute highlighted the burden of the funding model and the unexpected rise in municipalities' costs, and she pledged to cooperate and that next year those parts of the reform will be reviewed.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart asks whether the oversight of care homes should be strengthened or other mechanisms should be employed, while at the same time discussing why the prosecutor's office did not initiate proceedings against Pihlakodu and whether the ministry has revisited this issue and whether oversight should be strengthened even further.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
The aforementioned cases are very regrettable, and they are criminal offenses for which the SKA does not carry out supervision; the SKA's aim is to monitor the quality of services, safeguard the rights of those in care, and ensure the sufficiency and documentation of caregivers, but in cases of criminal offenses the matter must be examined by the competent legal authority.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech was merely a plea to invite Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman asks whose responsibility the abuses that occurred at Pihlakodu fall under — between the care home, the Ministry of Social Affairs, or the justice sector — and whether clear rules should be established at the legislative level detailing what is allowed and what is not in order to prevent similar cases.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
It was stressed that in care homes one must follow the laws and ensure the elder's dignity, autonomy, and privacy, and that a gender-sensitive approach is allowed only if it is possible and the situation allows; in cases of staff shortages or urgent interventions, it may not be followed.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called Varro Vooglaid to the stage.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid asked the minister whether the prosecutor's assessment of the legality of Pihlakodu's actions and the non-initiation of criminal proceedings require clarification of the law, or whether the prosecutor has acted correctly and there is no crime.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
The Minister of Social Affairs, Karmen Joller, said that it is not possible to comment on the work of the Prosecutor's Office, because there are other bodies for that, and added that she is not aware of any arguments.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Tanel Kiiki onto the stage.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asked whether the government has discussed raising the subsistence threshold and improving access to a place in a care home, because prices are rising quickly and, in the conditions of an aging population, the money allocated in recent years may not be enough in the future.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
According to the coalition agreement, attention will be paid to the poor state of the specialized care service, the necessary changes to this reform will be planned, and an analysis to assess funding needs, to be completed in 2026, will address the issue of finding funds; it is also hoped to support people remaining at home and to expand the service in 14 municipalities during this year, but more precise answers will come from the analysis to be completed at the end of next year.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Arvo Aller to perform.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller raises the question of how the Estonian Social Insurance Board conducts monitoring of service quality and whether the care reform will remain sustainable if the person being cared for and the caregiver may be of the same sex.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Karmen Joller emphasized that the situation must not be called a mere blunder, stressing that crimes are taken seriously and quality is monitored. Furthermore, although the shortage of care workers is real, the care reform has begun moving toward sustainability, even though its full impact is not yet evident.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Vice-Chair thanked everyone, announced that there were no further questions, opened the debate, and invited Lauri Laats to speak.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats claims that quality home care is not guaranteed, because the funding allocated to local municipalities is insufficient, costs have risen due to taxes, and the money directed to nursing homes does not improve overall quality, which is illustrated by the Pihlakodu case and inadequate supervision.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asks for three more minutes.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats criticizes that the government has not properly implemented the care reform, citing as examples the taxation of pensions and the withdrawal of support for a single pensioner, the lack of oversight and service quality, and court disputes between local governments and the state, and calls for a clear, action-oriented plan to advance the care reform.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks and asks Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman said that the reform of care homes does not meet the promised objectives, and there is a need for clear accountability, prevention, and an amendment to legislation to stop abuses, to address the issues of the Pihlakodu case, and to ensure dignified care for people with dementia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asks for three more minutes.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasizes that systemic abuses occur in nursing homes, and that there is a need to review the ministry's regulatory and funding model, train staff, and focus on quality in order to ensure a safe and affordable nursing home placement for the elderly.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, thanked everyone.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman thanks the audience.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks you all and asks Tanel Kiiki to take the floor.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik praised the care reform as a step in the right direction, highlighting that over 60 million euros had been allocated to the sector and that the public's co-payment had been reduced from 80% to 50%. However, he stressed the necessity of improving the quality and safety standards of services in care homes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, announces that three more minutes are needed for the discussion.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik emphasized that in cases involving care homes, the situation must be clarified and all violators brought to court, because people must have confidence in the safety of the environment, and he explained the positive results of the care reform, but acknowledged the need to improve oversight and training.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks you and asks Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In her presentation, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart emphasizes that, in light of the Pihlakodu case, it is necessary to strengthen the oversight of care homes, consider new legislation, and give a greater role to the Estonian Social Insurance Administration, because the current responsibility and law enforcement processes are not able to adequately protect the elderly.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller requested two additional minutes.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart notes that this signal indicates the prosecutor's office is unable to implement the adopted penal provision, and she calls on the legislature to jointly amend the law to ensure better protection for victims of violence and rape, particularly residents of care homes.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller concluded negotiations on the second agenda item and noted that there were no requests to speak, and that the minister did not wish to add anything.