Who pays for health in Finland?
In one sentence
Before you build anything in health, find out who would pay for it, because in Finland it is often a public organisation or an employer rather than the patient.
Finland has three main ways health care is paid for.
Public health and social services. Since 2023, wellbeing services counties organise public health care, and the City of Helsinki organises its own. They are funded by the state. When they buy new products or services, they usually use public procurement, a formal tender process that can take a long time.
Occupational health care. Employers must provide preventive occupational health care for their staff, and many also pay for medical care such as doctor visits. It covers most wage earners, and Kela, the Social Insurance Institution, reimburses part of the cost. Large private providers deliver most of it. For a startup, both the employer and the provider can be customers.
Private care and individuals. People also pay for private clinics, wellness products and apps themselves, sometimes with private insurance.
This matters because the user and the payer are often different. A nurse may love your tool, but if her employer won't pay, you have no business. Ask early: who has the problem, who decides, and who pays?