Doctor Appointment Problems
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-01-24 15:41
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 8m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's Q&A session focused on a pressing issue within the Estonian healthcare system: the length of doctor appointment queues and system funding. MP Aleksandr Tšaplõgin (tqf_ePph_iY) posed a question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, claiming that specialist waiting lists stretch up to six months, thereby endangering patients' lives. The Prime Minister disputed this claim, citing data from the Health Insurance Fund, which indicated that the median waiting time for a planned initial outpatient specialist appointment was 21–24 days in the first half of 2023, although she did acknowledge longer wait times in specific fields such as allergology and neurosurgery.
Kallas highlighted the main causes of the problems: population aging, the rising cost of health technologies, and the underfunding of Estonian healthcare compared to other European countries. As a solution, she mentioned an analysis being prepared by the Minister of Health regarding a sustainable financing model for the healthcare system. Additionally, the Prime Minister was asked whether the health of the nation constitutes a matter of national security, to which Kallas replied affirmatively, emphasizing the importance of the length of years lived in good health. Aleksei Jevgrafov (J1LHX7AIGOU) further raised the issue of doctors' abnormal overwork (shifts lasting up to 32 hours) and its negative impact on the quality of care. The Prime Minister acknowledged the problem of overwork but stressed that solving it requires finding additional funds in the state budget, pointing to the necessity of supporting new tax initiatives, such as the motor vehicle tax.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riigikogu member Aleksandr Tšaplõgin submitted a question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas regarding the problems with doctor appointments.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin criticizes the long waiting times for doctor appointments—six months or even longer—emphasizing that patients could die while waiting and that the elderly are particularly vulnerable. He also asks whether the cause is a shortage of specialists or insufficient funding, and what the government plans to do to shorten these queues.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that although rapid e-consultation between general practitioners and specialists is available, and the median waiting times for specialties do not indicate a six-month delay, the problem still exists. She noted that this stems from an aging population and the rising costs of medicines and technologies, requiring a sustainable financing model. The Minister of Health will prepare a thorough analysis on this matter, after which the political choices will be discussed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Aleksandr Chaplygin asks a clarifying question.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He poses a brief question: Is public health a matter of national security?
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that public health is crucial for the state. To achieve this, steps will be taken to improve health behaviors, increase the taxation of alcohol and vices, reduce alcohol consumption and medical waiting lists, and actively implement measures to curb childhood obesity and involve parents, ensuring children move more and live healthy lives.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Aleksei Jevgrafov to ask a follow-up question.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksei Jevgrafov raised the issue in the Riigikogu that the situation in Estonian healthcare is difficult because doctors are working under excessive strain, often up to 32 hours straight several times a month. This causes burnout, reduces motivation, and degrades the quality and availability of services. Furthermore, due to salary-based inequality, graduates prefer to work abroad. Consequently, he asks whether the government is aware of the problem and what solutions the Prime Minister envisions.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized that healthcare requires additional funding, and while the government hopes to secure 230 million euros through the car tax, they must also seek further revenue streams to cover the increased costs. The Minister of Health will provide a concrete answer (written answers are possible).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He/She thanks the Prime Minister and announces that today's registered questions have been addressed.