If two politicians have their way, a new children’s hospital will rise to replace the old Lastenlinna paediatric hospital as part of the city of Helsinki’s centennial celebrations in 2017.
Left Alliance chair and Sport and Culture Minister Paavo Arhinmäki and Green MP Anni Sinnemäki plan to raise 30 million euros of the 130 million euros needed for the venture partly by way of fundraising and sponsorships.
Commenting on the fundraising approach, architect Risto Pelkonen said it is odd that the country’s wealthiest city can’t find the funds for a children’s hospital, but must resort to charity and sponsorships. The construction of the hospital will be the responsibility of a foundation.
“A foundation is a foundation, but if private sponsors are involved in a public project, then their mission is to turn a profit – and then we’ll be completely lost,” Pelkonen said.
Fundraising boosting hospital profile
Green MP Sinnemäki played down concerns that fundraising activities for the project were off to a slow start.
“I’m not worried – if money doesn’t come for whatever reason, I believe it will get public funding,” said the former Greens chair, who also sits on the Helsinki city council.
She said she understood that for many, the collection drive signalled that there are insufficient public funds for the hospital. On the other hand, the publicity from the fundraiser would be a positive step that would help spread the word about the venture.
Culture Minister Arhinmäki, however, was not thrilled that both private funds and donations would be used to bankroll the new public library and renovation of the Olympic Stadium.
“The Lastenlinna is in extremely poor condition. Now the government has committed to financing the construction of a new paediatric hospital. In principle the public side, the state and municipalities, should be able to independently finance basic services such as hospital services,” he declared.
“It’s a question of will on the part of those parties who have decided to get involved in the project. The children’s hospital will be a fully public, normal hospital, but it has been considered such an important project that we have tried to accelerate it by bringing donors on board,” Arhinmäki said.