Health in Finland

The state of people's health and welfare in Finland has steadily improved.The Finnish population is now healthier than ever, the health of the elderly is constantly improving, the increased years of life are predominately healthy years, as major diseases have decrased and prevented. The positive outcomes are not only based on advanced preventive and curative health care services, but also on the creation of and support for healthy living conditions and ways of life.

The main beneficial influences are improvements in working, housing and other living conditions, higher levels of education and financial wellbeing, less smoking among men, and more healthy eating habits. Care of serious diseases gets better results today, and preventive action such as inoculations and screenings have also been effective.

There are many reasons behind the problems that still exist. Growing welfare and better living conditions are not spread evenly, and income gap is widening. The health risks are often spread unevenly among  population. There is also still some marginalization of the lowest social groupings in health care services.

Finnish health policy continues to aim to give people a longer and healthier life and to reduce health differences between population groups.The Government Health 2015 strategy  presents eight targets for public health, which focus on important problems requiring concerted action by various bodies. They indicate the outcome aimed at in different phases of life.

In addition, there are 36 statements concerning the lines of action underlined by the Government: Terveys 2015.

Over the last decades, Finland has developed comprehensive health protection and health promotion policies, including issues traditionally not directly connected with health care provisions, such as environmental health, occupational health and safety, the prevention of CVD, the promotion of physical activity, nutrition and other life-style issues, the promotion of mental health and the prevention of infectious diseases.

Sources:

Ståhl T, Wismar M, Ollila E, Lahtinen E, Leppo K. Health in All Policies. Prospects and potentials. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, 2006.

Government Resolution on the Health 2015 public health programme. Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2001:6.

Health inequalities in Finland. Trends in socioeconomic health differences 1980-2005. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Publications 2007:9.

Helakorpi S, Pajunen T, Jallinoja P, Virtanen S, Uutela A. Suomalaisen aikuisväestön terveyskäyttäytyminen ja terveys, kevät 2010. Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (THL), Raportti 15/2011.

Updated 8/2011.