Postimees Digest, Saturday, March 2

Copy
Please note that the article is more than five years old and belongs to our archive. We do not update the content of the archives, so it may be necessary to consult newer sources.
Photo: Toomas Huik

POSTIMEES

Defense ministry confirms Afghanistan pull out deadline.

Minister of Defense Urmas Reinsalu and Commander of the Defense Forces, Brigadier General Riho Terras gave a press briefing yesterday to detail the remaining role of Estonian forces in Afghanistan. Estonia will be sending another two teams (Estcoy-16 and Estcoy-17) to Afghanistan whereas the latter will pull out in summer of 2014. Reinsalu told journalists that the exact time of departure depends on the country's presidential elections in spring. After the infantry companies are pulled out, Estonia's presence will consist of support units, staff officers and special operations units as the international community will remain in Afghanistan also after 2014, the minister said.

Waiting lists pushing three months.

The waiting lists for doctor's appointments have grown to two months and beyond in some cases whereas several hospitals only offer paid appointments and have people call on a daily basis in order to ascertain whether something has opened up. Head of the Health Insurance Fund Tanel Ross said that the board is aware of the problem and that it is in the middle of carrying out a survey with which to change the principles of how the lists are comprised.

"I can tell you more in April as I should have a lot more information then," Ross said. The board and the social ministry are also working on a common digital registration system that would cover all medical institutions and specialties, making it possible to get an appointment anywhere using just one website.

Comments
Copy

Terms

Top