Other health services for students will continue to be provided in Kouvola.
The Student Health Foundation (YTHS) is moving student oral health services from XAMK’s Kouvola campus to Lahti.
The YTHS announced this on Monday. The change will come into force at the end of the year.
YTHS justifies the transfer on the grounds of low client numbers. According to Plosila, the Kouvola campus has about 2 400 clients. In Kotka, the XAMK campus has about 3 000 clients.
Changes in student health care in Kotka
Kotka’s student health services are also moving later this year. However, the services will remain in the city.
– The first reason for the transfer is the transfer of the educational institution. The new campus of Kantasatama does not have facilities for student health care, so it would not even be possible to continue operations in connection with the campus, explains Plosila.
At the same time, general and mental health services will be provided by a subcontractor.
– Secondly, we have had problems with the availability of personnel, and the Kotka campus service point has not worked as intended. The purpose of switching to subcontracting is to better secure the services, says Plosila.
According to him, the competition for the subcontract is currently underway. YTHS will inform about the new location and the time of the change later.
The students’ organisation criticises
The student union Kaakko published a statement yesterday criticizing the change. According to it, the relocation of the dentist’s office causes an unreasonable loss of time and additional costs for those studying at the Kouvola campus.
In its press release, YTHS outlines that the availability of services will continue to be sufficient when doing business on public transport.
– The service organizer, or Kela, has approved the changes to the service network, points out Plosila.
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