The shortage has been especially acute in northern Finland where, according to one doctor who wished to remain anonymous, patients are routinely screened via a nurse to cut down the number of appointments, placed on a waiting list to go on a waiting list to a see a doctor (with no clear time scale) or even told to go and see a private doctor.

‘This should never be necessary,’ he told 65DN, ‘because free health care is paid for through everybody’s tax money. But we have been so understaffed.’

However, according to the Finnish Medical Association, the shortage is now easing. This is because there are no more locums and administrative jobs have been outsourced, allowing doctors to focus more on their patients.

There are currently 250 unfilled doctors’ posts in Finland. Last year, there were 408.

According to Oulu councillor Ville Vahamaki, ‘The problem is that people come to Oulu to study medicine and after they graduate they don’t stay here . . . they want to move south.’

‘Also, the pay and conditions are often a lot better if you work as a private doctor so, of course, that’s what a lot of qualified doctors do.’

The website of the Finnish Medical Association also highlights the insufficient numbers of doctors in the state sector, blaming low pay:

‘By the mid-1990s, the number of (medical) students had fallen to approximately 360. It has since increased to about 600. The view of the FMA is that adequate supply of doctors to public health care should be ensured by improving the remuneration and working conditions of doctors rather than by increasing numbers of students.’

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