The Riigikogu received an overview of the implementation of the long-term national development strategy in health

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Sikkut noted that, although Estonian people were living longer and healthier lives than ever before, Estonia’s health indicators were still far from Western European and Nordic health indicators. She pointed out that, in the strategy document, progress towards the set goals was measured by three indicators concerning health, namely healthy life years, deaths by accident, and obesity.

According to Sikkut, the number of deaths resulting from accidents, poisonings, and trauma has decreased over 20 years, but since 2019 we have been moving away from the target and with every year, we are moving further away from the target set for 2035. The minister noted that the number of alcohol and drug-related deaths was increasing every year, and falls at home had doubled since 2019. “So that, with regard to issues concerning the living environment, we clearly still have room for development,” Sikkut said.

The minister also mentioned the increase in obesity. “In the strategy ‘Estonia 2035’, the target is that less than half of the adult population in Estonia would be overweight. However, in 2022 the upward trend resulted in a situation where 53 per cent of the adult population is overweight,” she said. “The number of obese school children has tripled over 20 years, and every third student is obese.”

Sikkut pointed out that we needed an environment where it would be possible to make healthy choices. “For example, there is a pedestrian and cycle route from home to work, hot school meals are provided, school stadiums are not locked – a proposal made to local governments by the Minister of Education and Research – and hobby activities are affordable,” the minister said. She pointed out as an example that action was being taken for school meals to contain less carbohydrates. Sikkut added that it was also necessary to achieve a situation where people would make healthier choices themselves.

The minister emphasised children’s health as a priority. She pointed out a number of measures that could be agreed upon, for example, healthy school meals, starting the school day at 9 a.m., enabling breaks to be spent outdoors, as well as the establishment of a sugary drink tax and restriction of the use of smart devices outside teaching activities in school.

Sikkut spoke about prevention activities and inter-sectoral cooperation to reduce accidents and risky behaviour, including the restriction of alcohol consumption. She also focused on ensuring the availability and quality of health care services. The minister also spoke about the importance of mental health help and noted that exercise had a positive effect in the event of both obesity and mental health concerns.

The minister also addressed the sustainability and challenges of health care financing, including the budget deficit of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund and the need for more funding to ensure high-quality medical and shorter waiting lists. She also mentioned the gender, regional and educational gap in health and pointed out that strategy “Estonia 2035” aimed to reduce those gaps.

The minister underlined that improvement of the Estonian health care system required a long-term vision, and investments into prevention and the availability of services. In addition to that, she emphasised the importance of a social contract to support healthy lifestyles and to improve health care. She said, paraphrasing President Lennart Meri, that we were responsible for our health all together and everyone individually.

During the debate, Jaak Valge took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Karmen Joller on behalf of the Estonian Reform Party Group, Aivar Kokk on behalf of Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Irja Lutsar on behalf of Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group, Tanel Kiik on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party Group. Minister of Health Riina Sikkut also participated in the debate.

A draft Resolution was dropped from the proceedings

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to lower the VAT rate on medicines to treat cancer” (277 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, was intended to make a proposal to the Government that, for medicinal products intended to treat cancer and other malignant tumours, the VAT rate be lowered to five per cent. The draft Resolution was also intended to make a proposal to the Government to establish a support measure for legal persons in private law for purchasing such medicinal products in order to improve the availability of medicinal products.

During the debate, Riina Solman from Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Irja Lutsar from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group took the floor.

23 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution. The support of a majority of the membership of the Riigikogu, that is, 51 votes in favour, was needed for the draft Resolution to be passed. Thus, it did not receive the necessary support and was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

The first reading of a draft Resolution was adjourned

The first reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to improve teachers’ working conditions” (373 OE), submitted by Isamaa Parliamentary Group, was adjourned due to the end of the working hours of the sitting and will continue at tomorrow’s sitting.

The draft Resolution is intended to make a proposal to the Government to draft, by 1 May, legislative acts that would ensure that teachers’ salary would reach 120 per cent of the average salary in Estonia as agreed upon in the coalition agreement, and to establish from 2025 a four-tier career model for teachers that would be connected with pay rise as well as workload calculation and additional duties.

The first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Atmospheric Air Protection Act (393 SE), initiated by the Environment Committee, was also deferred to the agenda for tomorrow’s sitting due to the end of the working hours of the sitting.

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

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu received an overview of the implementation of the long-term national development strategy in health

Source: Parliament of Estonia