HELSINKI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Finland should watch out for the risk caused by the vast outsourcing of basic level health and social services, especially in confronting a possible wider outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, officials said on Wednesday.
Checks had revealed the municipalities had rarely included an emergency situation clause when contracting commercial operators to deliver public health outsourced services, although administrative rules had required such a clause, Kirsi Varhila, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social affairs and Health said at a press conference.
In Finland municipalities are in charge of health and social services in their area.
Krista Kiuru, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, told the press that the outsourced services to seniors were now a particular concern as COVID-19 can hit elderly people harder.
An administrative reminder had been issued on Wednesday by Finnish government about the obligations of the municipalities to make preparations for possible circumstances.
"We are not setting any new requirements, but reminded the whole health and social services sector about existing regulations that require preparations for crisis situations," Kiuru said.
Unlike many other EU countries, Finland has legally mandated emergency supplies rules. The National Emergency Supply Agency stores commodities, including medication and hospital supplies, for the society to function for several months without imports.
Last week, Finnish officials said 400,000 units of protective clothing for health care personnel were in storage. However, Varhila noted that the commercial operators contracted by municipalities would use some of the materials originally for the health care personnel in the public sector.
As of Wednesday, seven cases of COVID-19 had been diagnosed in Finland, but the authorities warned it could change quickly.
