Parliament backs inquiry into new hospital‑building financing – Last week the Labour, Conservative, Socialist Left and Red parties secured a majority in the Storting to commission a study of an alternative funding model for hospital construction, responding to concerns that the current loan‑based system strains operational budgets[1].
Current system funds health‑trust building via state‑budget loans – Today Norway’s health trusts obtain financing for new hospitals and renovations through loans allocated in the national budget, while universities receive distinct appropriations for large building projects[1].
Proposed model would shift cost burden to five universities – The draft scheme under review for the five self‑governing universities would require them to cover a substantial share of major construction costs, with the state expected to fund only 40‑60 % according to the consultation documents, a structure critics say mirrors the hospital model being abandoned[1][2].
Ellen Dalen warns the plan endangers university core tasks – NTL first deputy leader Ellen Dalen argues that placing financial risk on universities—especially amid unpredictable material price hikes and climate‑driven rehabilitation expenses—could force cuts to core academic activities, making the proposal “unreasonable”[1].
Minister Aasland stresses no impact on university operations – Research and higher‑education minister Sigrun Aasland stresses that any financing change must not compromise university core missions and points out that, unlike hospitals, university investments are decided by the government and funded through separate budget allocations[1].
Bergen’s Realfaghøyden rehab could be first test case – The 7.5 billion‑kroner rehabilitation of the Realfaghøyden campus in Bergen, slated after projects at Oslo, NMBU and NTNU, may become the inaugural university project financed under the new model, illustrating the potential scale of impact[1].