The Riigikogu deliberated the updating of the National Security Concept

At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill on the liability insurance of health service provider and heard replies to five interpellations.

The second reading of the Bill on the Mandatory Liability Insurance of Health Service Provider (522 SE), initiated by the Government, which had been adjourned due to the end of the working hours of the plenary sitting on 24 March, continued at today’s sitting.

The purpose of the Bill is to create the systems for patient insurance and compensation for vaccine damages. Patient insurance is the mandatory liability insurance for providers of health care services. The Bill will provide for the principles and organisation of the mandatory liability insurance of providers of health care services, as well as the bases for and extent of the damage subject to compensation to the patient. The new system will be established with the aim of better protection of the patient and simpler application for compensation.

In the case of a damage event where it would have been possible to prevent health damage in the treatment of a patient, the insurance provider will evaluate the circumstances of the claim. The insurance amount will be up to 100,000 euro per injured patient, and three million euro per whole one-year period of insurance.

The Bill will also establish the minimum requirements for the organisation of patient safety. An information analysis system will be established with a view to preventing threat and damage events.

At the same time, the Bill will amend the Medicinal Products Act and provide for vaccine insurance, or mandatory insurance against vaccine damages, the purpose of which is to create a simplified procedure for compensating to people serious damage to their health due to vaccination.

Besides, an opportunity will be created under the Health Insurance Act to also include in a list of diseases, in addition to the diseases treated with medicines with a valid reference price or price agreement, the diseases in the case of which the prices of the medicinal products used to treat the diseases are formed in joint procurements of medicinal products of the European Commission.

19 motions to amend the Bill had been submitted for the second reading. The motions that were supported included the right of employees of the State Agency of Medicines to obtain access, with the consent of the person, to the personal data in the health information system in order that experts could assess the connection between the health damage and the vaccination, taking into account the health data predating the vaccination.

Faction Isamaa moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. The result of voting: 7 votes in favour and 51 against. The motion was not supported. The second reading was concluded.

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas replied to the interpellation concerning the updating of the National Security Concept

The interpellation had been submitted by members of the Riigikogu Leo Kunnas, Alar Laneman, Henn Põlluaas, Kalle Grünthal, Paul Puustusmaa, Siim Pohlak, Urmas Reitelmann, Merry Aart, Rene Kokk, Ruuben Kaalep, Anti Poolamets and Mart Helme.

The interpellators wished to know which military national defence capability developments the Government was prioritising and what was being planned to fill these capability gaps.

Kallas explained that Russia’s war in Ukraine had created a completely new security situation both in Europe and in the Baltic Sea region more specifically. “Russia’s aim and interest is to restore spheres of influence in Europe, and the events in Ukraine are showing that Russia is using military force indiscriminately for this end,” Kallas noted. She added that, since war was going on in Ukraine and nobody knew exactly how long it would last or how it would end, much had changed and therefore the updating of the national security concept had also been put on hold. “We will continue this work as soon as the situation is clearer. At present, we are trying to support Ukraine as much as possible, to increase the cost of the military aggression for Russia, and to eliminate capability gaps in the comprehensive national defence of Estonia quickly,” Kallas said.

Kallas noted that the Government had allocated additional funds to all priority areas, taking into account also Ukraine’s experience. “First, air defence. This means air defence systems, missiles, anti-tank weaponry, launchers, rockets and territorial defence. We will strengthen the territorial defence based on the Defence League by using the willingness of Estonian citizens to contribute to national defence. As regards indirect fire, we will increase the number of K9 self-propelled howitzers and we will acquire multiple-launch rocket systems. In situational awareness, we will increase the situational awareness capability of the Defence Forces. And then, the allied presence, additional infrastructure developments to host allied forces both in Tapa and in Ämari,” Prime Minister explained.

“In addition, the Government deems it necessary to develop medium-range air defence and for this, the Ministry of Defence is holding consultations with our allies and then we will proceed accordingly. Within four months, a plan for acquiring medium-range air defence will have to be submitted to the Government. However, final decisions will be made in the state budget strategy,” Kallas said.

Kallas emphasised the importance of civil protection, the rescue capability corresponding to military threats. “We also support the crisis preparedness of local governments, and these areas will also receive significant extraordinary funding in the coming years. We also attach importance to border security and the police response capability. Equally important are cyber defence, strategic communication and several other areas, which will also get attention in the supplementary budget,” Prime Minister said.

“In Estonia’s security policy, we are following the principle that whole Estonia must be equally protected in terms of both territory and the people who live here,” Kallas emphasised.

Prime Minister also replied to the interpellation concerning the protection of civilians, Minister of the Interior Kristian Jaani replied to the interpellation concerning the activities of the police and the interpellation concerning the lawfulness of the activities of a police prefect, and Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo replied to the interpellation concerning the demographic crisis.

The Riigikogu heard two oaths of office

Substitute member of the Riigikogu Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart took the oath of office and Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise took the oath of office for a second term.

During the open microphone, Tarmo Kruusimäe took the floor.

The sitting ended at 9.27 p.m.

Photos (Author: Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Source: Parliament of Estonia