Lapland’s regional council decided to preserve three health services that were being considered for closure or reduced service, with the council voting to maintain the inpatient ward in Muonio, the health center in Karesuvanto, and 24-hour emergency care in Ivalo. The proposed changes to the three health services stemmed from a legal requirement for health service counties to eliminate budget deficits by the end of 2026 and reflected savings programs across Finland’s health sector. The proposed measures were strongly opposed by the Sami Parliament in Finland. (Eye on the Arctic)

The Lapland regional council’s decision to maintain the three health services is an important success for the area’s local and Indigenous communities. As Sami leaders in the region warned, the proposed cuts would have increased travel times, reduced access to care in the Sami languages, and weakened overall community health. The situation underscores the importance of preserving access to healthcare in the High North, especially culturally sensitive care. Aggressive policies of assimilation perpetrated against the Sami and other Arctic Indigenous communities have contributed to lasting trauma, and many Sami continue to face discrimination in the healthcare sector. Sami patients have expressed that they feel deprioritized, misunderstood, powerless, and less valued than non-Indigenous patients. Additionally, although the Sami have unique health needs, they are usually presented with standardized systems of care developed for the majority population, often resulting in a poorer quality of service. This historical and current discrimination can lead to lower health outcomes and erode trust in healthcare services, pushing some to avoid seeking help. Therefore, there is a clear health equity gap between Sami and non-Sami people. While the council’s actions have prevented this gap from widening further, Finland’s health system continues to face pressure to reduce services. As Finland weighs more changes to its health service, it must consider the Sami perspective to prevent greater marginalization. (International Journal of Circumpolar Health, Learning Cycle Collective, Non-discrimination Ombudsman of Finland, Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

Source – https://www.thearcticinstitute.org/arctic-week-take-five-week-23-february-2026/