Threatened by Cuts

In order to maintain current services the deputy director of the Foundation for Student Life in Oslo (SiO), Trond Bakke, is relying on receiving a grant of NOK 1.7 million from this year’s budget.

«If we do not receive the grant, we will either have to reduce costs in Health Services or increase funding from the semester fee,» Bakke says.

The Standing Committee on Education and Research (KUF) of the Storting has allocated NOK 2.8 million to SiO's psychological and psychiatric services through the Government Budget of 2005. In order to maintain current health services for students the Committee has decided that the amount outstanding of NOK 1.7 million shall be covered through standard operating conditions and terms of agreement. Funds exceeding NOK 2.8 million shall be covered by Opptrappingsplanen for psykiatri, a governmental scheme to better conditions within psychiatry. Health Services at UiO is not eligible for grants concerning specialist services, and therefore has to come to terms with Helse Øst on a framework agreement.

Uncalled for

Leader of Velferdstinget (a student welfare establishment) Inge Carlén feels that this is a problem which is uncalled for.

«Terms and conditions should apply to us like any other special service. Today psychological and psychiatric services are financed out of the students' own pockets,» Carlén says.

Ansgar Gabrielsen (representing Høyre), the Norwegian Minister of Health and Care Services, expressed in a written response to Question Time in the Storting earlier this year that Helse Øst and SiO have to reach an agreement on a potential payment of the operating grant. Trond Bakke feels that Gabrielsen is washing his hands of the whole affair.

«The problem is that we have to relate to both the Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of Education and Research. Neither Clemet nor Gabrielsen accepts the responsibility to push through our grant,» Bakke says.

Puzzled

Expert consultant with Helse Øst Torstein Paalsrud believes that Helse Øst is in keeping with the current agreement.

«The agreement was reached following Government Budget grants. Within this agreement there is an intention to forward services already established. Helse Øst would therefore be puzzled if this should result in a reduction of services.»

Inge Carlén, on the other hand, believes that Helse Øst should have a budget opening so that SiO can collect this payment and hopes for a solution.

«We have to do our utmost to achieve this,» he says.

Disappointing

The opposition to the Storting is not impressed by the Government’s handling of the situation. Both the leader of KUF, Rolf Reikvam (SV), and a member of KUF, Vidar Bjørnstad representing Arbeiderpartiet, hold that someone now has to take the responsibility.

«It is disappointing that the Minister of Health and Care Services does not wish to pursue a majority resolution from the Storting. However, Helse Øst will have to make satisfactory amends. We will pursue this,» Bjørnstad says.