[bobl]

You don't outsource, or 'privatize', because you want responsibility. In the pitch for the company in question they are stating how Stockholm has the lowest cost of all counties for this service [0]. Apparently that means outsourcing to a call center in Thailand [1]. Which in turn use some random provider [2].

It isn't really something hidden. In fact I would say that the whole idea is well supported by a significant part of voters who do not want government to do things, nor have restrictions on companies. If we limit the scope to just politics, Stockholm County had probably the most prominent scandal in the last couple of decades with Nya Karolinska, yet essentially lost no voters in the last election.

It is easy to blame politicians, the government or even companies. But at the end of the day there aren't enough people requesting quality or responsibility.

[0] https://www.medhelp.se/outsourcad-1177-tjänst-är-effektivast [1] http://www.medicall.nu/hem-1.aspx [2] https://www.voiceintegrate.com/se https://www.applion.se/

[ivanhoe]

But blaming politicians, the government and companies is the way to request responsibility, isn't it? Without the political pressure you can request whatever you like, but to a little effect. And as outsourcing work like this is totally illegal under GDPR, it's definitely up to the government to enforce it's laws on it's own contractors, and it's up to companies to suffer the consequences of not treating peoples privacy seriously. The blame here is 100% real.

[bobl]

I touched upon this in my other comment. I don't think it is wrong to criticize, but there can't be meaningful change unless you actually allow yourself to address the problem. It is a bit hard to explain if you haven't experienced Swedish politics lately. I'll just give you some examples:

1. The same county awarded contracts for building a hospital were the cost ended up quadrupling to $6 billion more than initially expected. (They got reelected). https://www.thelocal.se/20180207/finance-minister-calls-for-...

2. There was a well publicized scandal a little more than a year ago were aggressive outsourcing ended up potentially exposing classified data. (Some politicians did have to quit, but only for handling situation poorly after the fact). https://www.thelocal.se/20170721/it-workers-in-other-countri...

3. "Sweden has had a quicker liberalisation than any other advanced economy in the world, in terms of privatisation and deregulation" https://www.thelocal.se/20120324/39864

4. Yet, "They were shocked to find that there is very little evaluation of the effects of the privatisation on Swedish society" https://www.thelocal.se/20110907/36006

5. And maybe the most glaring example of dysfunction, the housing market. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/personal-banking/mortgages/swede... https://www.thelocal.se/20170518/housing-crisis-forces-recor... https://www.thelocal.se/20170828/the-story-of-swedens-housin...

There just isn't much of an expectation of control, or that issues will be dealt with, these days in Sweden. It is unlikely that there would be any meaningful change in this situation either. Any effective change will be off the table and they will continue to outsource without much oversight because that is the agenda. Which is largely what has happened in other areas.

[jordanbeiber]

Hey, don’t forget some goodies:

1.1. The hospital is built and operated according to guidelines and specifications set by a consulting firm that had no previous experience building hospitals.

It’s been a cluster fcuk with things missing or completely out of place.

1.2: Appointed Head of operation was a previous employee of the aforementioned consulting firm. More than 80% of the billing from said firm lacked specification but was of course approved by... drumroll ...head of operation!

There other interesting bits as well, but these stood out to me at the time.

It’s all frankly a brilliant piece of right wing “entrepreneurship”.

[bobl]

I just wanted to add, if I came across as criticizing, that I do agree with you. I do think the county is at fault. I do think people should expect more. I am just not seeing people doing that.

Sweden was never perfect, but some of its reputation as a functional country is not unfounded. Today we have many systems we know aren't working, yet little is being done. I have even heard Swedish political analysts being dumbfounded that some political issues were there are obvious flaws, and should be something that matters to people, don't show in the polls. I guess it might have to do with the political landscape, were there are a large number of people that very likely are dissatisfied. It just doesn't, because of the polarized situation, result in change. Instead it results in whatever is less objectionable, which is mostly whatever made the situation bad in the first place.

Anyway. I hope this incident get some more attention in Swedish media.