Health system
In Finland, both the public and the private sector offer high-quality healthcare services. In the public sector, basic hospital care is provided by municipally supported health centres. Public-sector specialist care is the responsibility of municipally owned or state-owned hospitals. A person with health insurance receives a ‘Kela’ card from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela).
Public sector health care services may be used by those with a registered municipality of residence in Finland.
Nationals of other EU Member States and Switzerland who are temporarily resident in Finland are entitled to use public healthcare services if they have a European health insurance card.
The private sector offers healthcare services and hospital care in the largest municipalities. The Social Insurance Institute will reimburse part of the fees charged by private doctors if the customer has a Kela card or a European health insurance card. Application for reimbursements must be made to the Social Insurance Institute within six months.