– Strengthen the local hospitals in Finnmark, Scrap the health enterprise model now

The meeting in Hammerfest on June 5, the people collects against the reduction and downsizing at the Finnmark Hospital. Red Finnmark participates wholeheartedly in the match. We have seen how the health enterprise model, introduced in 2001, has set budget and accounts ahead of the local community’s health needs. Under this model, hospital operations are financed on the basis of the number of treated patients – not common welfare.

The health enterprise model weakens democratic governance. The hospital board does not sit on the same postal code as patients – politicians have marginalized their role, and decisions are made by central bureaucrats and the health administration. Red has long demanded that hospitals be managed on political premises and be funded by the community.

The hospitals will offer equal health services to everyone – and they should be welfare, not a shop. We want to reintroduce local elected control, because health is infrastructure that concerns us all.

The Norwegian Nursing Association’s union representatives openly warn: « What we fear most is that we should not be able to offer the necessary health care that patients need … something that can in the extreme consequence cost lives, » says union representative Tine Johansen.

These are not just dangerous estimates – it is happening now. Such plans would force pregnant women in Finnmark to even longer and more demanding journeys. This contradicts both emergency preparedness and goals of decentralized health services.

Red Finnmark therefore says that we will « scrap the health enterprise model », « turn the centralization » and « turn around the local hospitals in Kirkenes and Hammerfest ». As few people as possible will travel long stretches for planned health services, including through greater use of digital solutions, as we have already pointed out in our program.

What is crucial is that everyone in Finnmark – and the whole country – is entitled to equal health care. The community must finance the health care system, so that hospital services become welfare, not the Profitian economy.

At June 5, we meet people’s unrest and resistance to the downturn. Red Finnmark will stand shoulder to shoulder with the population and fight for the local hospitals and a health care system that prioritizes people rather than spreadsheets.

Hallgeir Strifeldt, 1. Candidate Red Finnmark

Elisabeth Moutka Johnsen, 3. Candidate Red Finnmark

Inga Hanne Hansen, leader Red Hammerfest

Kim Daniel Svendsen, leader Red Finnmark