Situation concerning the responsibilities of the Minister of Social Affairs
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, sixth sitting, press briefing.
Date: 2025-09-17 15:01
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 27
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 14m
AI Summaries: 27/27 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first part of the information session focused on clarifying the situation falling under the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the overall state of healthcare service accessibility. Member of the Riigikogu, Lauri Laats, posed questions regarding the accuracy of data, mistrust, and cooperation between agencies, with the aim of improving people's access to healthcare and social services. In the context of the European Union and Estonia, figures from Eurostat statistics highlighted a significant deficit in healthcare service accessibility; the minister deemed it necessary to clarify the sources and measures for assessing and improving the situation. Discussions also covered the cooperation and independence of the Health Insurance Fund and the ministry, emphasizing that the future leader must be independent and political interference in treatment decisions must remain within boundaries.
The second part centered on the leadership of the Health Insurance Fund: how to find a new, professional leader and what the costs and organizational forms would be. The council announced that a new leader is being sought with the assistance of an external recruitment firm; the service price was estimated between €28,000 and €32,000, and if the price exceeds €30,000, a tender must be organized. It was also emphasized that LEADERSHIP must be approached professionally and collaboratively and that the ambition is to maintain the Health Insurance Fund’s independent status; the issue of office space and its impact on the state budget was also under discussion, but no decisions were made on this matter at this time. Finally, the need for better cooperation between the health and social fields was emphasized, so that people's well-being is unified and consistent.
Decisions Made 1
The Health Insurance Fund's board jointly decided to find a new healthcare executive through the use of an external recruitment agency; the estimated cost was given as 28,000–32,000 euros, and if the total cost exceeds 30,000 euros, a tender must be organized. The selection of the new executive remains within the board's authority; the issue of office space was under discussion, but no decision was made during the briefing.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Member of Parliament Lauri Laats, who posed the main questions and led the discussion. He belongs to parliament's leadership line; in terms of positioning, we describe him as "other" (Member of Parliament), not in a clear category of coalition or opposition. Laats has presented presentations and clarifying questions to the sector leader as an active participant.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Riigikogu member Lauri Laats to ask Social Minister Karmen Joller a question regarding the situation within the minister's area of responsibility.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The very first question is addressed to the Minister of Social Affairs, Karmen Joller. The questioner is Riigikogu member Lauri Laats, and the topic is the situation within the Minister of Social Affairs’ area of responsibility.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats is demanding answers from the minister concerning Eurostat data, which indicates that a large portion of the population is foregoing healthcare services due to their inaccessibility or high cost. As Chairman of the Health Insurance Fund Council, he also criticized the minister-approved decision to spend 35,000 euros on finding a new director, and inquired whether the Minister of Social Affairs has at last begun addressing issues in the social sector, rather than focusing solely on healthcare matters.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Laats raises the point that 15.5% of the population is foregoing healthcare services and requires analysis, criticizes the Health Insurance Fund's decision to spend 35,000 euros on finding a new director, and asks whether the minister will continue focusing on healthcare, has appointed the Minister of Social Affairs, and is dealing with social problems.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller explains the costs associated with searching for the new head of the Health Insurance Fund and the procedure for organizing the tender, emphasizing the importance of finding a professional and sector-competent leader, and achieving better cooperation between the healthcare and social fields for the well-being of the people.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller explained that while the cancellation of medical procedures is a serious problem in Estonia, it is being actively addressed. She also justified the necessity of the costly procurement organized to select the new head of the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa), arguing that the institution, which manages a 2.5 billion euro budget, required a professionally competent leader, rather than one chosen based on personal connections. She simultaneously stressed that her priority is the overall well-being of the population, which necessitates closer cooperation between the healthcare and social sectors.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar expressed his thanks and immediately thereafter gave the floor to Lauri Laats so that he could ask a clarifying question.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the previous speaker/participants] and asks Lauri Laats to present a clarifying question.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats reproaches the respondent for their lack of knowledge regarding the sources of data on the availability of medical care, highlighting that, according to Eurostat data, Estonia is the negative leader in Europe with 15.5%, ranking worse than even Albania, and directs attention to the source. Furthermore, he sharply criticizes the use of a private sector service, costing 35,000 euros, to find the head of the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa), arguing that the national system is too toothless and suggesting the Reform Party use the same service to find better ministers.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats claims that, based on Euronews and Eurostat data, the accessibility of medical and healthcare services in Estonia stands at 15.5%, making it the worst in Europe—even Albania is at a better level than us. Furthermore, he criticizes the Reform Party's plan to pay the private sector 35,000 euros to find a minister.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller emphasizes that a social minister should not base their work on unreliable single sources, such as Facebook posts, but rather the quality of healthcare must be assessed using extensive data to ensure people receive timely medical care; she also affirms that the tenure of Riigikogu members and the government must reflect the will of the Estonian people, which is why she rejects the idea of replacing democratic elections with professional evaluation.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Social Minister Karmen Joller stressed that the evaluation of healthcare should not be based on a single number or a Facebook post, but rather comprehensive data must be used so that people in Estonia can reach the right doctor in a timely manner.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offers his thanks and announces that the supplementary question will be posed by colleague Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart is criticizing the necessity of the Health Fund spending half a million euros on events, salary increases, and over 70,000 euros in performance bonuses, all supposedly aimed at motivating employees. She questions why the same incentive packages are not offered to teachers and rescuers. She highlights the legality of how these funds are distributed and raises the ongoing debate regarding office space and associated costs, specifically mentioning the priority given to the carbon footprint and the broader issues concerning the optimal use of taxpayer money.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart sharply criticizes the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa) for its wasteful use of taxpayer money, citing as examples unjustifiably high board fees, substantial performance bonuses, and half a million euros spent on events. She questions why similar incentive packages are not offered to teachers and nurses, and further objects that the priority when selecting the most expensive office space was the carbon footprint, rather than optimal financial management. She is demanding an explanation from the minister regarding whether he plans to discuss these operating costs within the council.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes that it is now time for the audience to act.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart poses a rhetorical question regarding the reform of the administrative structure, proposing the idea of transferring certain functions to the ministry's purview in order to achieve significant financial savings, reaching millions.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
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Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the Minister and presents a request to him.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Social Affairs Minister Karmen Joller emphasized that the Health Insurance Fund must remain independent of the ministry and that treatment decisions must not be influenced by politics. However, she noted that there must be some political input in the management, and the supervisory council may, when necessary, request justifications for decisions and express its views.
Sotsiaalminister Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Social Affairs Minister Karmen Joller stressed that she must not be confused with the former head of the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa), and admitted that the Tervisekassa summer retreat also offended her sense of justice. She emphasized the critical importance of Tervisekassa’s independence as a public-law institution to prevent political interference in treatment decisions, stating that the current level of political representation on the council is sufficient. Joller added that operational decisions, such as relocating the office, fall under the purview of the new director. She confirmed that the summer retreat scandal, which was exposed by the press, led to the former director’s resignation before the council even had a chance to discuss the matter.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked [the participants] and announced that he was concluding the consideration of today's first question, and before moving on to the second question, there are questions regarding the procedures for conducting the sitting. Peeter Ernits is recognized.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the discussion of the first agenda item and, before moving on to the second item, gave the floor to Peeter Ernits to address the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits claims that the credibility of the government coalition is exceptionally low, and he asks the Speaker of the Riigikogu whether he is not concerned that not a single MP from Eesti 200 is present, and that the only representative from the Reform Party is his colleague Toomas Järveoja, who respects the attending Prime Minister.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits draws attention to the exceptionally low credibility of the governing coalition, asking the Speaker of the Riigikogu whether he is not concerned by the fact that almost no coalition member respects the sitting Prime Minister with their presence, especially those from the Eesti 200 party.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar clarified that these are questions intended for the information session, which allows Riigikogu members to pose questions to members of the government (primarily the opposition). He requested that, going forward, members avoid procedural questions that do not pertain to the rules for conducting the sitting.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar clarified to his colleague that the specific question did not pertain to the procedure for conducting the sitting, stressing that the event was predominantly an information hour dedicated to questions posed by the opposition, and requested that irrelevant procedural interventions be avoided going forward.