YLE investigated 120 municipalities and found over half had decided to implement higher healthcare costs following a new law that went into effect in early August. The legislation allows municipalities to increase prices from 11 euros to almost 13 euros for a single visit to a health clinic. The price increases are based on rising costs. Healthcare fees were last hiked six years ago.
In one year, an individual can be charged at most for three visits to a health clinic.
Government's budget framework has accounted for the fact that municipalities can increase social and healthcare fees. State funds for municipalities are expected to be cut by over 60 million euros -- the sum municipalities are anticipated to gain from the social and healthcare price hikes.
