HUS year 2024 - From the CEO: Access to treatment improved despite the financially difficult year – the year was challenging for the personnel

Access to treatment improved despite the tough financial situation

Access to treatment is a key issue for us, and in 2024, we were able to improve access despite the tough financial situation. We focused particularly on the areas where the situation was the most difficult, such as neurosurgery, joint replacement surgery, plastic surgery, and cardiac surgery. In these fields, treatment waiting lists were made significantly shorter.

A challenging year for the personnel

For the employees, 2024 was a tough year. The co-operation negotiations started in August and ended at the end of November and they involved the entire personnel and were tough, but necessary.

Overall, the extensive adjustment measures, of which the measures affecting the personnel are only a part, will take us in the right direction and the financial impacts will be visible in the coming years.

However, the staff situation was good during 2024. The availability of staff was good throughout the year despite the co-operation negotiations, and the personnel’s turnover rate and absences were reduced.

I am proud of all the HUS people and the work we do every day in all of our units.

A difficult year financially

2024 was financially difficult as the budget was very tight. We were able to achieve savings amounting to 130 million euros in our costs already before the beginning of the year in order to have a neutral budget, i.e. a zero result. But during the year, and also for the coming years, we were forced to achieve additional savings, which unfortunately also affected the personnel.

The measures to create savings were driven by a significant need for financial adjustment for 2025, in the amount of 140 million euros, for which we needed to prepare in advance. This need for adjustment, on the other hand, was the result of a deficit in the previous years, which HUS must cover during 2025.

At the end of 2024, the financial deficit was approximately 30 million euros. It still needs to be covered, but the amount is much lower than it was a year ago. The deficit was largely caused by the significantly increased use of purchased services and medicine costs. We have conducted correct measures, although they have been painful. I am cautiously positive about 2025. I believe we will stay within our budget as long as the financial framework is reasonable.

Good collaboration with the wellbeing services areas and educational institutions

Collaboration with the wellbeing services areas of Uusimaa and the city of Helsinki further improved during the year. The role of HUS as the largest national provider of specialized healthcare and as a university hospital is appreciated.

Cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki and other schools was also good, and it is an important entity for us. We want to stress that today’s research is tomorrow’s treatment and today’s student is tomorrow’s professional.

Matti Bergendahl
Chief Executive Officer