– It is absolutely correct that we are closing down, confirms chairman of the Norwegian Patient Association, Olav Røise.
– We were not provided for in the state budget. From the state budget being presented until it became clear that we were receiving funds via the Directorate of Health’s revised subsidy scheme, seven months passed. With the resulting uncertainty, employees had to find new jobs, says Røise.
The association will be closed during the general meeting tomorrow.
The Christian People’s Party is concerned about the closure.
– I am very sorry for this. NPF is important for both patients and relatives. I wonder how Kjerkol intends to look after patients who need help and counselling, when NPF is now being closed down due to the government’s downgrading, says deputy chair of KrF, Ida Lindtveit Røse.
– Completely incomprehensible
The Norwegian Patient Association had five employees before they lost state support. Today there are two left. The grant has been around NOK six million a year.
– When we were taken out of the state budget, I was convinced that it was a misunderstanding. It was completely incomprehensible. We help patients who can’t get help elsewhere, who don’t have the finances and resources to run their own affairs. It concerns, among other things, incorrect treatment and a lack of rights when dealing with the healthcare system, where we give advice on behalf of affected patients and write and follow up on complaints on their behalf, says Røise.
In 2022, 1,000 people contacted the association for help.
– Now these are without offers of medical and legal assistance. Those who can afford it will be able to contact their own lawyers and medical experts, but not everyone can afford it, says Røise.
KrF says they are “strongly concerned” about the offer for this patient group.
– KrF has always believed that the changes the government made to earmarked funds have major consequences for the individuals who need the services they provide. It is important to have such low-threshold offers that ensure safety for patients and relatives. We are very concerned about the offer to this group as a result of the closure, says Ida Lindtveit Røse.
– Bureaucratic arrogance
The chairman of the Norwegian Patient Association, Olav Røise, claims that on behalf of the association he has also tried to get in touch with the Labor Party’s leader representative in the health committee at the Storting, without success.
– We haven’t even received an answer. No justification. This type of arrogance is bureaucracy at its worst, which this time unfortunately affects weak patient groups, says Røise.
Dagbladet has contacted the first deputy chair of the Health and Care Committee, Cecilie Myrseth (Ap) in the matter. She refers to the Ministry of Health and Care, which is responsible for the subsidies.
Dagbladet has not yet received a response from the Department of Health and Care in the matter.
2023-06-27 21:08:30
#worried
