Choosehealthcare.fi at TERVE-SOS 2017 event for social and healthcare professionals, 4-5 May 2017

The Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare will be presenting the Choosehealthcare.fi online service at Finland’s largest educational event for social and healthcare professionals, TERVE-SOS, which will take place at the Messukeskus Expo and Convention Centre in Helsinki on 4-5 May 2017. Experts from Kela specialising in issues related to the planned social welfare and healthcare reform will be visiting our stand as well.

Information for both private citizens and healthcare professionals

Choosehealthcare.fi is an online resource of information on the rights of patients to choose their place of treatment. Aimed at private citizens, healthcare professionals and government agencies, the site offers information about access to health services in Finland and abroad, the rights of patients, and the reimbursement of treatment costs.

Marika Lahtivirta, head of the Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare, says that there is a dedicated section for healthcare professionals that provides advice on the procedures involved in treating foreign patients, invoicing the costs of treatment, and referring patients to treatment abroad.

Choosehealthcare.fi is a joint creation of the Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare, the National Institute for Health and Welfare, the Finnish Social Insurance Institution Kela, and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The social welfare and healthcare reform will lead to a re-evaluation of Kela’s role

Marjukka Turunen, director of change management at Kela, is in charge of Kela’s preparations for the social welfare and healthcare reform. The forthcoming reform will have a broad impact on Finnish society and on Kela’s role in it. Kela plays a significant part in the reform, for example as a coordinator of cooperation in several reform areas.

According to Marjukka Turunen, because the social welfare and healthcare reform is such a huge and transformational undertaking for Finnish society, all actors must work closely together in order to achieve success.

Advice on how to access health services in Finland and abroad

Each member state of the European Union has a national contact point for cross-border healthcare. It is responsible for communication and exchange of information on topics related to cross-border healthcare among the member states. The Finnish contact point has been affiliated with Kela since its founding in 2014. The services of the contact point are available online in Finnish, Swedish, English and the Sami language.

Visitors to the TERVE-SOS 2017 event have the opportunity to learn more about the operation of the contact point and to get to know the Choosehealthcare.fi online service in section C 13 of the Kokoustamo part of the Messukeskus Expo and Convention Centre in Helsinki. Entry is free.

For media inquiries, contact:
Annamari Qvist, Communications Coordinator, Tel. +358 50 551 8498
Marika Lahtivirta, Head of the Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare, Tel. +358 40 354 7396
firstname.lastname@kela.fi