Twin sisters Siiri Heiska and Maiju Ehrola, both 91, passed away within four hours of each other in separate locations. Siiri died in Helsinki on July 17, while Maiju died in Raahe on July 18. Their families claim neither twin knew the other had been hospitalized.

The unusual case has left many wondering about the mysteries of life and death. Nina Heiska, Siiri’s daughter, remarked, "That such a strange case could happen maybe says that we don’t quite know everything about this world."

Expert Commentary

Epidemiology professor Jaakko Kaprio commented on the case but cautioned against drawing scientific conclusions. He stated, "This is such a rare single case that we can’t draw any scientific conclusions."

Interestingly, this is not the first time twins from their village have met an untimely end. In March 2002, two elderly twins died in separate road traffic accidents in Pattijoki, where Ehrola and Heiska were born.

Pharmaceutical Price Control Debate

US President Donald Trump recently announced plans to force pharmaceutical companies to lower medicine prices across America. However, Finnish drug makers may respond by raising prices elsewhere, including Finland.

According to Risto Holma, chairman of the pharmacists association, Finland’s drug makers face high research and development costs. He explained that if profits are reduced due to price controls, they will need to make up for it elsewhere, likely resulting in higher prices for Finns.

Example of Price Disparity

• Cholesterol medication costs just a few euros in Finland but could cost tens or hundreds in the USA.
• Holma emphasized, "We have no idea how much these medicines cost over there. It’s possible that if they reduce profits here, then they would raise them somewhere else."

Finnish pharmaceutical companies include Orion Oyj and Fimea Oyj. The US government has proposed legislation aimed at reducing prescription drug costs by limiting what Medicare pays for certain medications. Finland currently does not have similar regulations.

Finland’s Healthcare System

Holma stated that Finland does not need price controls because its healthcare system works well without them. He noted:

• Finland has universal healthcare coverage, ensuring everyone can afford their medication regardless of income level.
• Finnish patients do not pay directly out-of-pocket for most drugs as part of their universal healthcare system.

Holma believes this model should be adopted globally rather than imposing price controls. He stated, "If you want low prices, then you should adopt our model instead of trying to regulate us from outside."

International Perspectives

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin recently expressed support for Trump’s proposal, hoping it will lead to better healthcare services worldwide. However, she believes countries should be able to assess their own policies before criticizing others’ systems.

Earlier this month, Marin visited Washington D.C. to discuss trade agreements between Europe and North America. During her visit, she met with U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken, discussing global health security and vaccine patents.

Marin emphasized that discussions around patent rights are complex and require careful consideration. She stated that countries must work together to address global challenges like pandemics while respecting intellectual property rights.

EU Concerns on Vaccine Patents

The European Union has previously expressed concerns regarding vaccine patent restrictions imposed by some countries amid the pandemic. Last year, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis criticized India and South Africa for restricting access to COVID-19 vaccines, stating that such restrictions violate international trade rules and undermine pandemic efforts.

EU leaders have since called on countries with large populations to take steps toward greater openness regarding bioscience innovation. Last year, EU leaders agreed on new rules allowing member states to delay the implementation of certain aspects of the bloc’s Digital Markets Act until 2024, seen as an attempt to avoid potential legal challenges from major tech companies.