Today, the Government Office submitted the results of the work done by a task force to the Cabinet meeting. The task force was established to coordinate the prevention policy for injuries and deaths due to injury.
“The prevention of deaths due to injury is based on knowing that death due to injury could be prevented,” said Maris Jesse, Director of the National Institute for Health Development, who led the work of the task force.
Estonia has a high number of deaths due to injury – in 2013, there were 958 such deaths, which is approximately twice the European average. “If the number of deaths due to injury was at the EU average, it would save approximately 490 lives in Estonia every year,” said Jesse. “If the death rate was the same as that of the Netherlands, which has one of the lowest mortality rates in this area, there would be 600 fewer deaths due to injury per year in Estonia.”
147,790 people received medical care in 2013 due to injuries and the Estonian Health Insurance Fund provided 31.8 million euros towards their treatment.
In the course of its work, the task force found that not all injury types are covered by objectives and preventative actions, despite the fact that objectives by injury type have been set out in various strategic documents and action plans and different preventative actions have been carried out.
For example, falling accounts for the third highest group of fatalities among deaths due to injury, leading to 107 deaths in 2013. Treatment for fall-related injuries also accounts for the highest total expenditure (approximately 16 million euros per year). At the same time, there is no systematic strategy for the prevention of falls, and the authorities responsible for prevention have not been defined. Similarly, it was not clear which body is responsible for the area of suicides, of which 209 occurred in 2013. The leading cause of death is poisoning, which claimed 219 lives in 2013.
“The preventative actions in Estonia have been rather universal, with the aim of raising awareness and to address the whole population,” stated Jesse, while adding that actions addressed to the whole population should also combine messages and preventative actions that are designed for more specific target groups.
A large number of deaths due to injury have to do with excessive alcohol consumption. “A decrease in alcohol consumption would lead to fewer injuries and deaths due to injury,” said Jesse. “That is why it is very important to implement the measures of the Green Paper on alcohol policy.”
Following the work carried out by the task force, the responsibility for the full analysis concerning the state of injuries and for the coordination of preventative actions hereafter lies with the Ministry of Social Affairs. “We must ensure coordinated cooperation between authorities in order to achieve lasting positive results,” said Jesse.
The task force comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior and relevant national authorities. The Estonian Health Insurance Fund, the Association of Municipalities of Estonia, the Association of Estonian Cities, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund and the World Health Organisation Country Office in Estonia were also involved.
Further information:
Maris Jesse, Director of the National Institute for Health Development, +372 50 28 890 and +372 659 3900, [email protected]
Margus Sarapuu, Director of Strategy of the Government Office, +372 693 5623, [email protected]