Expanding choice of primary care in Finland: much debate but little change so far

Health Policy
Liina-Kaisa TynkkynenIlmo Keskimäki

Abstract

"Putting the patient in the driver's seat" is one of the top issues on the health policy agenda in Finland. One of the means believed to promote patient empowerment and patient centeredness is the introduction and further expansion of choice policies with accompanying competition between public and private service providers. However, the Finnish health care system has a highly decentralized administration with multiple funding sources and three different types of providers that people can seek primary care from (municipal health centers, occupational health care services, and private sector providers). This complicates the implementation of choice at the level of primary health care. In this paper, we describe the current policy debates and initiatives promoting the expansion of the choice of primary care provider in Finland. We examine the legislation and policies that have contributed to the current, complex service system in Finland. In light of this examination, we critically discuss the current debate on choice policies as well as the introduction of choice in the context of primary health care.

References

Sep 1, 2009·Health Economics, Policy, and Law·Julian Le Grand
Nov 11, 2009·Health Research Policy and Systems·Liina-Kaisa Tynkkynen, Juhani Lehto
Feb 16, 2010·Health Policy·Bengt Ahgren
Jun 25, 2013·Health Policy·Liina-Kaisa TynkkynenJuhani Lehto

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Citations

Sep 20, 2017·Scandinavian Journal of Public Health·Anna-Mari AaltoTimo Sinervo
Nov 21, 2017·Health & Social Care in the Community·Marjaana Jones, Ilkka Pietilä
Mar 28, 2020·JMIR Medical Informatics·Casandra GrundstromMinna Isomursu
Nov 1, 2020·Health & Social Care in the Community·Valerie Lai-Hei FungEng-Kiong Yeoh

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