Pirkanmaa Boosts Caregiver Pay, Funds Coxa Waitlist Cuts

Pirkanmaa's welfare area council has adjusted its 2026 budget, adding €1.2 million for family caregiver compensation and €0.7 million to cut waiting lists at Coxa Hospital, Tamperelainen reports.

The caregiver top-up was prompted by a state decision that pushed payout totals above the amount originally budgeted. The Coxa allocation will be matched by an extra dividend from the hospital, accounted for in the budget as higher financing income.

Council officials also shifted costs between service lines to cover items such as the OMNI365 patient record system and the distribution of care supplies for patients with respiratory paralysis. Those transfers do not change the welfare area's overall cost level.

The changes lower the operating margin by €1.9 million and reduce the result for the financial year by €1.2 million. The budget still shows an €89 million surplus, while the annual margin weakens by €1.2 million to €135.9 million.

They follow the welfare area's recent report of a €110 million surplus for the first nine months of 2026, and officials say that surplus still leaves significant uncovered deficits. The adjustments aim to respond to changing service needs and the financial effects of national decisions.