On Thursday, the Health Personnel Commission delivered a report which comes up with proposals on how to solve the personnel shortage in the health and care sector.
One of the topics that has been discussed in the committee is whether a kind of “conscription” should be introduced for everyone when they finish upper secondary school as part of the solution.
The committee has called it “general social contribution”.
There has been noticeably greater pressure on those who work in the health and care services, and the situation will become even tighter in the future.
There are more and more elderly people, while at the same time there is a reduction in the number of people of working age.
The number of people over 80 increased by 40,000 between 2000 and 2020. Between 2020 and 2040, this group will increase by over 250,000.
SHOULD READ IT: Health Minister Ingvild Kjerol says she will read the report. It will be sent for hearing on Thursday. Photo: Nico Sollie / TV 2
Will raise the old woman first
The conscription scheme, which several in the committee have envisioned, is an obligation to serve a social contribution and for those who do not serve in the military.
Committee leader Gunnar Bovim tells TV 2 that they have discussed conscription thoroughly.
– Someone in the committee believes that we should introduce it for those who have finished upper secondary school in line with military service, which fewer and fewer take, says Bovim and continues:
– We believe that it is not necessary to introduce it now, but if we are unable to turn the tide or raise the old woman, then the majority believes that it should be investigated.
The “Kjerringa” committee is trying to raise is how to offer good health services in an aging population. The committee presented a number of measures on Thursday.
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The “conscription scheme” that several in the committee have envisioned is a contribution to society that can be served in the health and care service, in cultural or voluntary activities or within other public services, following the model from the now discontinued the civil service.
In such an arrangement, one should receive the same remuneration as those conscripted in military service, including board and lodging, so that the arrangement is as equal as possible to conscription, the committee believes.
Those who had taken part in such an arrangement could have received a reduction in practice for professional certificates within health and social work education programmes.
The committee also suggests that there could be an exemption for those who, for example, start higher education immediately after upper secondary school.
ACTION: The committee believes it is time for action. A future reality is that there will be fewer employees per patient. Photo: Nico Sollie / TV 2
New status
The committee has presented some advantages and disadvantages of such an arrangement.
Some of the advantages are that it will relieve the ordinary staff, provide work training and participation in the labor market. The committee believes that it will provide a special value for young adults who are at risk of falling outside society and working life.
One of the disadvantages is that conscription is considered politically controversial, as an encroachment on citizens’ right to decide on their own lives, writes the committee. It will also help to lower support for community participation and contributions more generally.
It is also uncertain whether the participants in the scheme will have the expertise needed in the service, and there are a number of logistical challenges linked to the board and lodging scheme, writes the committee.
– When did you decide that a new assessment must be made?
– We have indicated that in a few years it should be looked at, because by then the effects of the other measures should have started to come, but we have not mentioned it exactly. And it is a political question whether you think it is within the scope we have, says Bovim.
As of today, there is no legal authority to introduce such a scheme.
