A doctor measures a patient’s blood pressure at the Kallio health centre in Helsinki. Photo: Vilja Vehkaoja / Lehtikuva
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Finland’s government is preparing to link public healthcare fees to a new index from 2027, a move expected to drive up patient charges more frequently and at a faster rate than inflation. The planned reform will particularly affect pensioners and unemployed people, according to public health experts.
Under the proposal, health centre and social care fees will be tied to a welfare region cost index. This index, unlike inflation, is largely based on average earnings.
The change means patient fees could rise annually and more sharply than under the current model, which adjusts charges every two years based on price levels.
Jussi Tervola, research director at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), said the new approach would result in near-automatic yearly increases. “Wages have historically risen faster than prices, and that trend is likely to continue,” he said.
In addition to the indexing change, the government plans to raise no-show fees for missed appointments. The proposed adjustments are outlined in a draft law submitted for consultation in April.
The government justifies the shift as a way to help stabilise the finances of Finland’s regional welfare authorities. But for users of the public healthcare system, the consequences will be significant.
Tervola warned the new policy would gradually tighten the finances of pensioners. Most pensions are tied to inflation, not wage growth, meaning income would lag behind rising fees. “Unemployed people may be hit even harder. Their financial situation is often weaker,” he added.
At Myyrmäki health centre in Vantaa, some patients said the proposed increases were unwelcome.
“No extra charges, it should be free,” said Jorma Tuuli, a Vantaa resident.
Juha Voutilainen, recovering from a stroke, said he had already hit the annual cap on out-of-pocket health costs but was still concerned. “Old people can’t afford to pay. And they can’t afford the medicine either,” he said.
Health centre and specialist visit fees have already risen steeply under the current administration. In 2024, a 10 percent hike was applied through indexation. In 2025, charges rose by 22 to 45 percent. The outpatient clinic fee in specialised care jumped from €41.80 to €66.70 over two years.
If implemented, the new model will make such hikes a regular feature. According to a Ministry of Social Affairs and Health estimate cited by Tervola, nearly half the population would pay more each year under the revised system.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
