“Innovation” is an interesting word that is derived from the Latin verb innovare, which means: to renew, to restore, or to make new again. Thus the original meaning was literally “to bring in something new” or “to renew by introducing change.” This wider definition can apply to industrial or commercial business, but also to public policy. Nordic public policy, although it is well developed, is always being subjected to policy innovations as shown here in the example below.
The Nordics have a relatively small population of 25 million in 5 countries that have long cold winters and a huge sparsely populated area. The regions covers about 3,5 million km², which is larger than any single country in Europe, and is roughly one third of the entire land area of the European continent (Europe 10.18 million km²). These numbers mean that the Nordics must apply the most efficient solutions to survive in the global markets – our companies and governments must apply the best innovations to domestic needs when challenged by changes at home and by the global markets.
A new survey from SINTEF, Norway’s public research institute, of more than 18,000 Norwegian nurses, reveals a sector under severe strain, particularly in municipal nursing homes, home care, and residential care. Researchers conclude that underfunding and inadequate staffing are driving unsustainable workloads: “The staffing is not proportionate to the tasks to be performed,” notes senior research scientist Solveig Osborg Ose . Over 60% of nurse managers report unfilled positions, and many municipalities compensate by hiring staff with lower qualifications—intensifying pressure on trained nurses. The report highlights widespread shortcomings in HSE (health, safety, and environment) practices, with nearly 60% of nurses stating that employers do not assess workplace risks, and more than half lacking procedures for handling offensive behaviour . Nurses also perform non‑clinical tasks such as cleaning and kitchen work, further diluting professional capacity. SINTEF recommends improved working conditions, better staffing plans, higher wages, and stronger involvement of nurses in technological development. A ten‑year follow‑up study is planned.
This survey is common to the other Nordic countries who all have fast ageing populations. The result is that there is a need to build and staff carehomes and for the rapidly increasing numbers of older folk that need care their own homes and in round-the-clock care in care homes where trained cares´rs and nurses are available 24/7.
These basic needs require heavy costs from the public sector and this is met by taxation or public insurance schemes, which without doubt are the most effective manner to cover there costs which can easily cost several thousand Euros each month for one patient.
Only a small percentage of wealthy folk can afford to pay all the costs for such care.
People in the Nordics pay higher income taxes and higher sales taxes (known here as Value added taxes, VAT) to cover the costs of the basic services. Another system used to cover prive care is thorugh private health insurance – however this monthly cost is just a form of taxation because you only get the cover if you pay! Some argue that it is better to pay privately but if you stop paying then private health care stops the same day and you then fall automtically in to the public healthcare system. Payiong private insurance also means that you pay to cover private health insurers’ and private helathcare providers’ profits in addition to the costs of their services. Public health care “insurance” is a bter solution because it is compulsary and available to all equally – even those who have serious health issues. The costs are spread over the whole population in a cost effective mannner, even though many (neoliberals) continue to believe that the public sector is ineficient in its delivery of these services. You must recall that healthcare in the USA costs some ten times more than in the Nordic countries. It is a fiction that the the public sector is always inefficient – it may lack stringent KPI but it can function well in major policy programs like healthcare where is is often a partner with the private sector. These partnerships always need to be subject to tough procerment competition with clear and demanding standard requirements.
The Norweigian survey is a key innovation in the tradional meaning of the word. Things need to be redone and renewed in this new world of rapidly higher healthcare costs. Furthermore, this survey is equally applicable to all the Nordic countries and should be seen as an important innovation to improve care of the elderly.
