The 2024 Annual meeting is taking place in Helsinki. To help you to prepare for the visit, the organising committee is providing you with an overview of the Finnish health and social care system. There is a brief description about important issues, with links provided for further exploration.
Key Healthcare Reforms (2023): A significant reform of Finland’s health and social services transpired in 2023. The responsibility for organizing healthcare, social welfare, and rescue services now rests with 21 Wellbeing Services Counties, as opposed to municipalities and joint municipal authorities. While most counties consist of multiple municipalities, the City of Helsinki primarily organizes its services independently. Government funding supports these Wellbeing Services Counties, which operate as self-governing entities. https://stm.fi/en/wellbeing-services-counties
Finnish Healthcare System: The Finnish healthcare system is rooted in public services accessible to all residents. Public health care is managed by Wellbeing Services Counties, which may either provide services directly or procure them from the private or third sectors. Primary and specialized healthcare constitute the two divisions of public health care. Notably, over 25% of social and health services in Finland are delivered by the private sector. NGOs play a crucial role, particularly in preventive wellbeing and peer support. https://www.eu-healthcare.fi/healthcare-in-finland/healthcare-system-in-finland/
Services for Older People: In Finland, the prevailing trend is to enable older individuals to reside in their homes for as long as possible. Wellbeing Services Counties organize social and health services based on individual needs assessments. These services are either produced by the counties themselves or procured from the private sector. Institutional care is subject to stringent criteria, and before such care commences, cost-effective home care services are arranged, encompassing home services and nursing. https://stm.fi/en/older-people-services/services-and-benefits
Home Care Innovations: Due to the growing demand for home services and a shortage of professionals, new methods like remote care have been introduced. For instance, Helsinki utilizes remote care as a solution to address these challenges. https://stm.fi/en/client-fees
Support for Informal Care: To promote home-based care, social services include support for informal caregiving. Approximately 50,000 individuals have agreements for informal care with Wellbeing Service Counties in Finland. https://palvelukeskus.hel.fi/en/care-services-at-home/remote-care
Income Security: For those in need, income security is managed by Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, covering aspects such as guarantee pensions and care allowances for pensioners. https://www.kela.fi/main-page
