Erikoissairaanhoidossa

Erikoissairaanhoito, or specialized medical care, refers to the part of Finland’s health system that provides diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for illnesses and conditions that require advanced expertise, specialized equipment, or more complex procedures. It complements perusterveydenhuolto (primary health care), which handles first-contact and preventive services. Specialized care is organized and delivered primarily by hospital districts and municipal authorities, in public hospitals, university hospitals, and specialized clinics. Most erikoissairaanhoito is publicly funded; patients pay modest charges, and costs are subsidized through the national health insurance system administered by Kela, with annual caps on out-of-pocket payments.

A typical patient pathway begins with a referral from a general practitioner or another primary care professional to a specialist clinic or hospital department. Urgent or emergency cases may be admitted directly to specialized care. Care is provided in inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, intensive care units, and diagnostic centers, covering a wide range of medical and surgical subspecialties.

Services under erikoissairaanhoito include diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, surgical procedures, oncology and cardiovascular care, neurology and other medical subspecialties, pediatrics, psychiatry, and rehabilitation services designed for complex conditions. While the public sector delivers the majority of these services, private providers also offer certain specialized treatments, typically financed through private insurance or out-of-pocket payments.

The goal of erikoissairaanhoito is to ensure access to high-level expertise and technology for conditions requiring specialized knowledge, supporting accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and appropriate long-term management within Finland’s health system.