Public sector healthcare and social services play a key role in overall security and security of supply. Healthcare and social services are part of Finland’s military capability. In the view of Tehy, the trade union for social care, healthcare and early childhood education professionals, this is given far too little attention in the discourse on defence policy.
– The discourse on national defence has focused too much on the Finnish Defence Forces’ procurement of materials and weapon systems. We talk about fighter jets, air defence and drones, but we’ve completely overlooked the question of who will take care of the wounded and the sick in the event of war or other crises, says Tehy President Millariikka Rytkönen.
Tehy is calling for part of the increase in defence spending required by the NATO defence alliance to be channelled directly into strengthening the healthcare and social care sector. The availability and competence of care professionals must be ensured, including in times of crisis. This is what we are committed to as a member of NATO.
Rytkönen emphasises that, in the wellbeing services counties, professionals prepare for even the worst-case scenarios as part of their day-to-day work. Crisis preparedness is built up during normal times, and these efforts require both funding and staff. Since 2005, there have been no military hospitals in Finland, and their duties are incorporated into the public healthcare system by law.
– It defies logic that the public healthcare and social care sector has been subject to substantial cuts, even though its responsibility for preparedness and readiness has increased as a result of Finland’s NATO membership. At the same time, there is a large-scale war raging in Europe. The cuts threaten to undermine the credibility of our national defence and our overall security. When it comes to increasing defence spending, we cannot overlook the healthcare and social care sector, Rytkönen says.
Hope and equality create a sense of security
Security is one of the three themes that encapsulate Tehy’s Government Programme objectives, alongside hope and equality. Hope and equality encompass a number of important things, without which security also lacks any deeper meaning.
– Throughout the Western world, we must now defend the things that we are used to taking for granted. During the current government term, equality in Finland has been eroded at a rapid pace, and our country has, in some regards, lost its status as a model country. We must return to fair decision-making, strengthen the rule of law and restore quality to our legislation, Millariikka Rytkönen says.
Ultimately, non-discrimination and equality are also the foundation of our nation’s crisis resilience and our will to defend our country. Should they be severely weakened, there will soon be nothing left for us to defend together.
– At Tehy, we want to see security, hope and equality be strengthened in Finland. That is why we also expect future decision-makers to promote these themes through their decisions, Rytkönen says.
