Wellbeing services counties
In Finland, 21 regional wellbeing services counties are responsible for organising public healthcare services. The City of Helsinki, the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) Group and the Åland Islands have separate responsibilities for organising services in their respective areas.
Everyone living permanently in Finland is insured by the state and has access to public healthcare services.
Wellbeing services counties are self-governing organisations funded by the state. They are responsible for organising a wide range of services, including:
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primary and specialised health care
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social services
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mental health and substance abuse services
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family and disability services
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rescue operations
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emergency care
Not all public healthcare services fall under the responsibility of the wellbeing services counties. Exceptions include:
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healthcare services for prisoners, organised by a separate public authority
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health services for Defence Forces personnel, provided by the Finnish Defence Forces
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student healthcare, offered by a partly publicly funded foundation
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rehabilitation services, provided by public, private, and third-sector organisations