By Months: Irja Lutsar
Total Months: 9
Fully Profiled: 9
12.2024
12 Speeches
Economic viewpoints are linked to healthcare costs and quality; the speaker warns against prioritizing cheap solutions at the expense of quality and safety, citing the funding decisions of the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa). They question whether the cost savings achieved via the hospital exemption (e.g., for CAR-T therapy) cover all expenses for production, administration, and control. Concern is also raised that funding the hospital exemption could worsen the availability of new, effective medicines for Estonian patients.
11.2024
12 Speeches
The speaker is critical of budget metrics that fail to reflect the true impact of healthcare expenditures. They emphasize that out-of-pocket payments for health services (exceeding 200 euros) represent a disproportionate burden on those who are less well off, prioritizing social justice over fiscal discipline.
10.2024
8 Speeches
It supports increasing market competition to lower the price of medicines and improve their availability, viewing this as a "soft way" to open up the market. At the same time, concern is expressed over excessive state intervention (nationalization) and the suppression of private enterprise within the pharmaceutical market. It is noted that the initial impetus for the legislative amendment stemmed from public sector cutback plans.
09.2024
4 Speeches
Economic perspectives center on the strategic allocation of national defense spending, advocating for robust investment in defense expenditures that enjoy strong public support. The speaker is calling for clarity regarding the direction of funds aimed at enhancing cyber defense, specifically balancing this against conventional weaponry.
06.2024
4 Speeches
Insufficient data.
05.2024
7 Speeches
The speaker acknowledges that the Estonian economy and finance are in crisis. He is concerned about the labor shortage and calls for an analysis to understand whether this is due to living beyond our means or an imbalance between sectors. He supports the involvement of independent experts in resolving the economic crisis to ensure reliable advice and explanations.
04.2024
3 Speeches
In the absence of data
03.2024
4 Speeches
Economic viewpoints advocate for efficiency and the optimization of public expenditures, such as achieving savings for the Health Insurance Fund by allowing partial employment during sick leave. Regarding the issue of high medicine prices, the preference is for price negotiations rather than VAT reduction, as the latter is considered ineffective. In planning the healthcare system, it is deemed essential for the state to assume direct control, rather than relying solely on market mechanisms.
01.2024
9 Speeches
Supports national investment in science, emphasizing that this is a prerequisite for Estonia's economic existence and innovation. It criticizes the current funding system, where large grants leave young scientists unfunded, and supports the reinstatement of small grants. It stresses the need to reduce bureaucracy, which consumes scientists' time on public procurements and reporting.