Regional leaders warn of healthcare crisis – appeal to the government for support

Six high-ranking regional politicians within the Social Democrats and the Moderates in southern Sweden are joining together to try to persuade Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) to quickly open the wallet.

In a letter to the government, they warn of drastic reductions in welfare if the state does not provide more money.

– It would have been best if we could get support already this year. It’s tough, says the moderates’ Carl Johan Sonesson.

The high inflation is plaguing Sweden.

Municipalities and regions have warned that the economic situation can hit well-being in several parts of the country, and substantial billion-dollar deficits are to be expected, according to the employer organization Sweden’s municipalities and regions, SKR.

Now six senior regional politicians within the Social Democrats and the Moderates in southern Sweden are joining together to try to persuade the finance minister to act in the crisis.

– In the current situation, temporary financial help from the state is needed to mitigate the acute economic crisis, the regional leaders write in the letter that Aftonbladet has seen.

– Drastic measures such as shutting down parts or entire businesses to cope with a recession are not reasonable or responsible, the letter states further.

The letter writers are now demanding information on support for both 2023 and 2024.

Internal requirements

Another requirement is that the government temporarily convert several targeted state subsidies into general ones, so that the regions can allocate the money to the parts of welfare that suffer the most from the economic situation.

Carl Johan Sonesson (M), chairman of the regional board in Region Skåne, is now demanding that his finance minister act.

– A temporary support, much like the previous Swedish government did with the corona support, is the right thing for the government to do so that the core of welfare can be protected, he says.

According to the letter writers, the high inflation has led to large cost increases and that the costs of pensions are rising for the regions. Now coverage is needed for those costs, Carl Johan Sonesson believes.

– It would have been best if we could get support already this year. It’s tough, he says.

Also Christina Mattisson (S), chairman of the regional board in Region Blekinge, describes a vulnerable situation for care.

– The government must rethink. There are lots of targeted rate subsidies that we think should be turned into general ones in this crisis situation. We in the regions know where the money is best used, she says.

Drastic cutbacks

In the government’s state budget for 2023, the government added SEK 12 billion in state subsidies to the regions and municipalities.

But despite warnings of a deficit of upwards of SEK 24 billion for 2024, the government and the cooperation party Sweden Democrats chose neither to give any new information nor more money to the regions and municipalities when the spring budget was presented in April this year.

– We are in the middle of budget work and the drastic reductions that we are forced to make are simply not feasible, says Christina Mattisson.

“Really, really serious situation”

My colleague Rachel de Basso (S), chairman of the regional board in Region Jönköping, agrees.

– The state must ensure that Sweden’s regions can provide equal healthcare. This can affect availability and the queues in care will grow. The regions then have to cut back and the citizens cannot receive care in time, she says.

– The government needs to come up with urgent measures, she continues.

The decision to come together across party lines was made last week within the collaboration that exists among six regions in southern Sweden.

– It is a strength that we do this across party lines because it is a really, really serious situation, says Christina Mattisson.

Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson writes in a comment to Aftonbladet that the government is following the development and that an assessment of the situation will be made before next year’s budget, i.e. not until this autumn.

– Every budget I have passed through the Riksdag, both in opposition and in government, has resulted in reinforcements for welfare. I will not leave municipalities and regions in the lurch, she writes further.

FACTS

They have signed the letter to the government

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