He has many difficult priorities ahead of him, Eivind Hansen. The director of Helse Bergen knows many of the decisions will be unpopular. This is the case in many healthcare facilities around the country. And people are fighting to ensure that their offer is not compromised, with actions and torchlight processions. The budget becomes more robust. The possibilities for new and expensive treatment, and expensive medicine, are numerous. There may be a shortage of professionals, and new requirements for what hospitals must deliver. Hansen sees debates about centralisation, decentralisation, prioritization of some patient groups, de-prioritisation of others. Eivind Hansen, CEO of Helse Bergen, is told to set tough priorities. Photo: Oskar Rennedal / news It is suggested that the proposals be met with protests, actions and torchlight processions. And fear that they will be allowed to rule too much when politicians have to give their instructions. – Sometimes it can happen that decisions are based too much on an opinion, and not on factual basis. Torchlight processions and actions can be important corrective measures. But it is not always the case that the sum of torch trains gives a good health. Facts and health Hansen receives support from Oslo. In the director’s office at Ullevål, the head of Oslo University Hospital shares the challenges they are experiencing at Haukeland in Bergen. He also has the same anxiety that sanity will be lost. The directors of the two largest hospitals in the country say they have discussed the issue among themselves several times. Bjørn Atle Lein Bjørnbeth, director of Oslo University Hospital, believes that it is absolutely necessary to re-prioritize the healthcare system, even if they may be unpopular. – A torchlight procession leads to an issue being illuminated from one side. But a case has several sides. A torch train gets a lot of attention. What is important is that those who make decisions do so independently of the torch train. Both Bjørnbeth and Hansen are afraid that politicians are to a large extent overriding decisions and priorities made outside hospitals and healthcare facilities. Last autumn, people in Hamar fought to preserve the hospital in the town. Photo: news The Minister of Health responds In recent weeks, there have been torchlight processions against cuts in drug treatment in Bergen, in emergency services at the hospital in Flekkefjord and against a worse offer in Egersund. The Minister of Health is in Lofoten today. They are fighting against the demolition of the hospital at Gravdal. Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) says she understands that people react and find the torches. She feels that many people now live in battle. Health and Care Minister Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) has met many protesters. Photo: Vilde Bratland Erikstad / news – Are politicians too influenced by torchlight processions and activists? – There are many people who want to influence the politicians and that is part of our democracy. Fortunately, the Storting has framed the responsibilities of a health minister quite well. I am responsible for hospitals throughout Norway, and therefore we must try to take care of health. – What influence do shareholders have on politicians today? – They say very clearly that the health offer is important to them. The health offer is also important to me and that is why I am the Minister of Health, to look after the health services today and tomorrow, and in 5, 10 and 15 years. Understand that people light the torches The hospital directors in Bergen and Oslo are clear that torchlight processions can play an important role. They can reveal consequences of decisions that would otherwise not have become visible. They think it is understandable that people fight for offers that are relevant to them. At the same time, they are worried that the groups with the strongest voices will win, while others will be forgotten. Hansen and Bjørnbeth see that there are different challenges in different parts of the country. They are preoccupied with the fact that they are speaking on a general basis, and not about specific actions. Nevertheless, they believe that they can see an unfortunate development where politicians too quickly side with shareholders. – We can call for a torchlight procession for sanity, says Bjørnbeth in OUS. – It is important to take care of health, and that is what we are supposed to look after. Bjørn Atle Lein Bjørnbeth, CEO at Oslo University Hospital. Photo: Christian Ziegler Remme / news
ttn-69
Helsetoppar believes that torch trains get to rule too much of health policy – news Vestland
