Editorial: the toothless and the slow

Photo: Urmas Nemvalts

In run-up to elections, this is what the parties have detected to be wrong with Estonian health care system: dentists out of reach, and poor knowledge on matters of physical fitness. Unanimously, all see the easily accessible alcohol as a culprit, and election promises let us know this is no way to go.

While all major parties talk the dental talk, the promises are partly safe. That dentist fees cannot be left for people to bear alone, has already been decided. Still, the parties come with certain specifics: EKRE promises free dental care for all (which, according to Praxis, would boost the prices and excessively burden the Health Insurance Fund); other parties are a bit more careful. Reform Party keeps its promise within €100, soc dems and Centre Party ceiling is €200, but the latter two envision the option once every three years. Here, IRL is most austere: as temporary crisis programme, free dental care is only available for those who, over the past 20 years, have not had income enough to see to their teeth. 

The trend of health education and prevention of sicknesses is welcome. Nice by Reform Party to promise to rearrange, at least partially so, the obsolete physical education classes at school with emphasis on results alone. The new thing would be exercise hours. To form a habit to move, jog etc is also seen as important by SDE and IRL.

This is a prudent path to trod and in all conformity with sports development programme till 2030. The latter aims at having lion’s share of the nation involved in recreational sport – the key being shaping a more positive attitude. Meaning: schools teach the basics of general training while assessment isn’t according to results but how a young person has developed. This should do away the life-long spite as resulting from having to squeeze into the norms.

When it comes to alcohol availability, all parties are out to curb that. The means offered vary, the aim’s the same: the less destructive behaviour, the healthier the life.

But there is a «but»: the money. This is the pain attached to any election programme item. «The coalition agreement!» yell the parties, hoping a future partner will bear the shame. Or, a bit later, the «Opposition’s hands are tied!»

At the estimate of Praxis, the future of Estonian health care system is dark, actually. At the current level of financing, the reserves will carry us for a couple of years more. From there onwards, there’s no choice: the state will need to find more money. The parties opt to not talk too long about that.