Opportunities for Cooperation between Estonia and ... - Valitsus

APPENDIX 11
COOPERATION IN SOCIAL WELFARE AND HEALTH CARE
In order to respond to the challenges presented by globalization, we need a
competitive economy and a healthy and caring society. High-standard social
and health care services may well offer a significant regional edge in worldwide
competition. The lowering of borders between Estonia and Finland will continue
to increase the mobility of labour, migration and other interaction. As the
nation state in the strict sense of the word no longer exists, the challenges and
problems concern us all.
Cooperation in social and health care services is important to Estonian-Finnish
integration. Joint projects to prevent and treat the common national diseases
(such as cardiovascular diseases) would benefit both parties. Additionally,
specialization in the treatment of rare diseases should be considered. There
is a clear need for closer cooperation in the prevention of communicable
diseases. Also, cooperation between NGOs across the Gulf of Finland is of
great importance.
To respond to the problems caused by alcohol, tobacco and drugs, Estonia
and Finland have harmonized their practices and looked for ways of managing
the problems together. Positive results have been achieved through these
efforts, such as the suppression of the illegal trade in Subutex pills. This area
of cooperation is of a permanent nature and needs to be intensified on an ongoing
basis.
As far as health care training is concerned, Estonia and Finland have relied on
each other for a long time. Unharnessed potential most likely exists both in this
area and in medical research. Health care personnel should be encouraged to
learn the language of the neighbouring country. It would facilitate the mobility
of labour and help transfer best practices across the Gulf of Finland.
Problems in the social and health care sectors are increasingly international in
nature. Adopting a common policy within the European Union in this area is of
great importance. Estonia and Finland could together place greater emphasis
on the Northern Dimension Partnership in Social Wellbeing and Health.
A common challenge facing European societies is the ageing of the population
due to increased life expectation and low birth rates. The natural increase in
Finland’s population will come to a halt in the 2020s. The economic dependency
ratio has already started deteriorating. The share of people 65 or older, currently
55