Back in May 2020 Avannaata Kommunia entered into a cooperation agreement with Naalakkersuisut, which was to improve the public service for the citizens of Qaanaaq.
Now almost six years later, the municipal council in Avannaata Kommunia has decided at a meeting on 27 March that the agreement must be cancelled.
Back in May 2020 Avannaata Kommunia entered into a cooperation agreement with Naalakkersuisut, which was to improve the public service for the citizens of Qaanaaq.
Now almost six years later, the municipal council in Avannaata Kommunia has decided at a meeting on 27 March that the agreement must be cancelled.
In a presentation to the politicians, the municipality’s administration states that the agreement has developed in a different direction than was originally intended.
Insecurity and expenses
The agreement was to improve the service to the citizens through close cooperation between the healthcare system in Qaanaaq and the retirement home in the city. However, the agreement has ended up being a burden for the employees at the retirement home in Qaanaaq, according to the administration:
“As a result of the agreement not being complied with, the employees at the retirement home in Qaanaaq have been burdened with caring for sick citizens in addition to their other duties,” writes the municipality’s administration and continues:
“This has led to insecurity among employees and management, and at the same time, the municipality has in practice had to cover all expenses alone, including expenses for staff, catering and other operational matters.”
According to the administration, both the relevant department in the self-government and the health service in Qaanaaq have been repeatedly made aware of the problems, without it being possible to find solutions, and therefore the administration recommends that the agreement be canceled where the municipal council has approved.
The elderly spokesman demanded that the agreement be cancelled
Back in February 2023, the collaboration was subjected to extremely harsh criticism by the then spokesperson for the elderly, Inga Egede, who believed that the agreement should be canceled immediately.
She assessed that it was a major disadvantage for both residents and employees that, as a result of the agreement, the retirement home in Qaanaaq is in practice used as a hospital for the health service.
At the time, the mayor at the time, Palle Jerimiassen, confirmed that the agreement had led to insecurity among the employees at the retirement home, partly because they had not yet received upskilling or further training after the retirement home also began to function as a hospital.
The mayor said at the time that he would take up the matter with Naalakkersuisut.
