The association believes that the Norwegian Directorate of Health’s decision to demand repayment of NOK 6.5 million from the association is invalid. Chairman Knut Johannesen says the association has sued the state to have the issue tried in court. – But when our money is locked, then there are no funds to pay for legal assistance, so it almost goes without saying that you have no chance of getting there, explains Johannessen in a press release. Unpaid bills The association, which was supposed to start the country’s first children’s hospice, owes Kristiansand municipality NOK 1.2 million in unpaid rent. In March, the association was therefore thrown out of the building at Eg in Kristiansand, and the locks were replaced. And on 5 March, an arrest was made in the association’s bank account and client account with Sørmegleren totaling NOK 4.9 million because the association owes the Norwegian Directorate of Health NOK 6.5 million. This concerns money that was originally supposed to go to the children’s hospice. The money has not been paid back despite repeated reminders. nut Ragnar Johannessen, chairman of Foreningen Huset på Eg, in the building that the association managed at Eg in Kristiansand. Photo: Heidi Ditlefsen / news The Association for Children’s Palliative Care (FFB) is allocated 30 million annually over five years in the state budget. The money will go towards the development, establishment and operation of what will be the country’s first children’s hospice. In the government’s proposal for the state budget in autumn 2022, the fixed subsidy of NOK 30 million per year was removed. Rather, the money will go to the children’s palliative care teams across the country. The opening of the children’s hospice is then already set for January 2023. The Directorate of Health is launching an investigation into how the association has used the 90 million they have been paid so far. The investigation reveals questionable spending of money. The directorate says the association must pay back a double-digit million amount. At the end of January, the general secretary of the association must go as a result of the report from the Directorate of Health. At that time, former health minister Ansgar Gabrielsen was hired as chairman of the association. The association is dismissing all 13 employees due to a lack of grants. Chairman Ansgar Gabrielsen is in dialogue with Kristiansand municipality to find out what the building, which cost NOK 75 million, can be used for. It becomes clear that the association must repay NOK 4.2 million and can apply to keep unused funds, which they do. At the general meeting in April, it is decided that the association will not be closed down as Gabrielsen has suggested, but that it will continue. The new chairman will be Knut Ragnar Johannessen. Chairman Johannessen states to news that he has faith that it will become a children’s hospice despite the coffers being almost empty. The plan at that time is to hire two people. The Norwegian Directorate of Health is demanding a further repayment of NOK 6.5 million in unused funds. The association complains about the decision, which ultimately goes all the way to the Ministry of Health and Care. They reject the complaint. The association is working to sublet the building, which is still intended to be used as a children’s hospice. They have paid rent to Kristiansand business company until the end of December this year. It is known that the association, which has now changed its name to Foreningen Huset på Eg, owes rent of NOK 1.2 million. The claim to the Directorate of Health for NOK 6.5 million has also not been paid, despite several reminders. Both Knas and the Directorate of Health send the requirements to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Agder. The apartment the association owns in the city center is being sold after being left out for over a year. Show more – Only losers in the case – When we joined the board, it was to achieve three things: Reestablish a good relationship with the professional communities, ensure that the approximately 100 million invested will benefit health Norway, and create a good offer for seriously ill and needy children, says chairman Knut Johannesen of the association Huset på Eg – However, we were unable to stand up to the forces that had decided to crush the association, he adds. He believes that both Kristiansand municipality and the Directorate of Health have acted inappropriately. – We did what we could, says chairman Knut Johannesen. Now he thinks there are only losers in this case. – The families and their seriously ill children who were promised health care at Huset på Eg never got what they were promised. The health service was not able to test how an offer for families in a serious life crisis would work in interaction with other health services. And Norway never got to reap the experiences from a pilot project that was adopted by the Storting itself, says Johannesen. Published 11.06.2024, at 07.31 Updated 11.06.2024, at 07.33
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The association Huset på Eg bankrupts itself – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
