Health Care in Finland

FMA > Health Care in Finland

HEALTH CARE IN FINLAND

The FMA collaborates with various authorities and decision-making bodies in relation to the development of health care in Finland. The Association is ideally placed to contribute expertise in this connection as it represents the medical profession throughout Finland. Ensuring high-quality health services for everyone serves the interests of both doctors and patients.

The FMA pursues several initiatives and issues a number of statements each year with the aim of improving health care and related legislation. The Association has put forward plans intended to ensure a sound financial basis for provision of health services. The strike by physicians in 2001 by the Association drew national attention to the critical lack of resources provided for health care.

The FMA has played a significant role in establishing a general patient insurance scheme and developing a family-doctor system for Finnish health centres. The aim of the Association is to promote the right of patients to have access to the treatment they need promptly. Possibilities for choosing a doctor and place of treatment need to be improved.

Health of Finns

Health services are available to all in Finland, regardless of their financial situation. Public health services are mainly financed from tax revenues.

The child mortality rate in Finland is one of the lowest in the world; the infant mortality rate is below 4‰. The life expectancy for a girl born now is 81 years, for a boy 73 years.

The life expectancy of Finnish men is deteriorated by cardiovascular disease, excessive consumption of alcohol and accidents. Cardiovascular mortality has declined in response to effective health and nutritional education in recent decades but excessive blood cholesterol levels and obesity remain common in Finland. Smoking and drug abuse are significantly less frequent in Finland than in Europe on average.

The aim of Finnish health policy is to lengthen the active and healthy lifetimes of citizens, to improve quality of life, and to diminish differences in health between population groups. Prevention receives particular emphasis in primary health care.

Updated 24.10.2007 klo 9:59