Hyvinvointiala Hali ry has reported that waiting lists for non-urgent specialist healthcare are excessively long in various welfare areas across Finland. As of the end of January, 135,570 individuals were on waiting lists, with around 12,582—approximately nine percent—having waited for over six months for treatment. The organization, which represents companies and organizations providing social and health services, tracks these waiting statistics and emphasizes the growing problem regarding patient access to necessary care.

In response to the alarming waiting list situation, Valvira, the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health, has alerted welfare areas and the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) to rectify their waiting list issues by the end of April or face penalties. Hyvinvointiala Hali ry criticizes the current situation as unsustainable and highlights that it's undermining patients' rights to timely healthcare, necessitating immediate action to address the backlog effectively.

To tackle the ongoing challenges related to waiting times, Hyvinvointiala Hali ry has proposed an innovative service voucher model aimed at alleviating the pressure on healthcare systems and improving patient access to urgent care. This suggestion underscores the need for systemic change within Finland's healthcare system to ensure that all patients receive timely treatment and to uphold their rights as patients, particularly in periods of high demand for specialist services.