Editorial: why a superhospital?

Photo: clipartlord.com

For years they have been talking about merging the hospitals of Tallinn. Should the municipal powers up and build the building, one might say good luck - on the one hand. On the other, one would wish for some specific explanations. As usual, the central issue being money.

What’s more, over the years the city government has sent signals rather contradictory. When hospitals merger was proposed by then social minister Hanno Pevkur (Reform) at end of 2012, deputy mayor Merike Martinson (Centre) said this was nothing more than diverting focus from actual health care problems (as quality and accessibility of treatment). Meanwhile, National Audit Office has advised the «competence centre» idea in hubs.

Naturally, a new house comes with improved conditions. As underlined by Mayor Edgar Savisaar, a larger institution has increased options to get funds from all kinds of foundations and get good deals with Health Insurance Fund (the Haigekassa). Sounds nice, but question marks linger over financing the mega building. And, to add to the confusion, the city has declared it intends not to legally merge East and West Tallinn Central Hospitals.

While the issue remains vague and is yet to be thoroughly discussed, the slogans «Estonia’s largest hospital», «mightier than Tartu [University’s] Maarjamõisa» mushroom in media. This, to be honest, smells political and future-elections-like.

Pity the people if health issues get a treatment like that.