NOK 250 million to bolster the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority

‘The government’s proposal will further bolster the finances of the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority in order to maintain preparedness for emergency surgical procedures in Narvik and Lofoten, as well as strengthening cooperation between hospitals and municipalities and helping to achieve a reduction in waiting times. We are also providing enhanced support to Clinic Alta to ensure that maternity provision remains in place, and to improve the outpatient clinic, mental health care, and other day activity services,’ says Jan Christian Vestre, Minister of Health and Care Services.

The government’s proposal is in addition to the separate grant of NOK 240 million awarded to the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority in the 2024 National Budget.

Of the NOK 250 million, NOK 90 million will be spent on increasing the health authority’s recruitment and cooperation funding from NOK 40 million to NOK 130 million. The aim is to enable a high quality, decentralised health service with shorter waiting times and an appropriate distribution of labour. Priority areas are integrated mental health and addiction services, and initiatives to reduce the number of patients awaiting discharge. The health trust and municipalities in the region will seek to reach an agreement on how the funding will be spent.

The government is also proposing:

• Funding of NOK 80 million to the University Hospital of North Norway to allow for the continued provision of emergency care at Narvik Hospital.
• NOK 65 million to Nordland Hospital to allow for the continued provision of emergency care at Lofoten Hospital.
• NOK 15 million to Finnmark Hospital and Clinic Alta in order to support initiatives such as its day activity services.

The grant to Finnmark Hospital and Clinic Alta is in addition to the separate grant of NOK 25 million awarded in 2024. These grants will be used in full in Alta to ensure that maternity provision remains in place and to improve the outpatient clinic, mental health care, and other day activity services.

Furthermore, an assessment will be carried out into the expansion of the internal medicine offering in the outpatient clinic and day activity services in Alta in consultation with the local municipality. A breadth of expertise enabling the provision of a service to patients with multiple chronic conditions and the elderly will be prioritised. The purpose of the grant is to strengthen Clinic Alta and ensure that its services can be further developed to support the best interests of the local community.

‘While we are proposing a grant of additional funding to the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority, it is important that hospitals in Northern Norway continue to work on implementing necessary transitions during the course of the year, and that the health authority continues to strive towards future financial sustainability,’ says Vestre.