Over 2,000 people waiting for specialist care services – government promises faster solutions

More than 2,000 people in Estonia are waiting for specialist care services, making waiting lists a critical problem. The Ministry of Social Affairs has submitted a draft law to the coordination round that should prioritise people with the greatest need for support. The aim of the changes is to ensure that people requiring urgent assistance can access services faster than currently possible.

Waiting lists for specialist care services in Estonia have grown to alarming lengths – currently over 2,000 people are waiting to access services. To address the problem, the Ministry of Social Affairs has submitted a draft law to the coordination round that would change the criteria for accessing services.

Urgency of need gets new weight

Under the current system, the queue does not sufficiently take into account how quickly a person actually needs help. Under the new draft law, the urgency of a person's need for support would become more significant in determining access to services – meaning that people in the most critical situations would receive help faster.

Long waiting times create serious problems

Specialist care services are designed primarily for people with intellectual disabilities who need continuous support to manage daily life. Long waiting lists mean that many vulnerable people must wait months or even years for help, which can significantly worsen their condition.

The Ministry of Social Affairs' draft law is still in the coordination round, so its details may change before final adoption. However, the aim is clear: to create a system that responds more flexibly to people's actual needs and reduces waiting times especially for those in the most critical situations.