Some social security recipients exploit low-cost ointments for online resale, Finnish agency condemns practice

Some recipients of Finnish social security benefits are purchasing subsidised medical ointments at minimal cost and reselling them for profit on online marketplaces, Yle reports. The practice has drawn criticism from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), which considers it an abuse of the system.

Pharmacists have observed a growing trend of Kela-subsidised basic ointments being sold on platforms like Tori, a Finnish online marketplace, as well as on Vinted and Facebook groups. Buyers obtain the products at a heavily reduced price—sometimes as low as €2.50 for nine bottles—once their annual deductible limit is met, then resell them at a significant markup.

Kela provides reimbursement for up to 4.5 kilograms of ointment every three months, equivalent to nine 500-gram bottles. After an individual’s annual deductible (€636.12) is exhausted, they pay only €2.50 per prescription. Some recipients exploit this by purchasing the maximum allowed quantity at the reduced rate and selling the excess online.

Laura Helin, a Helsinki-based pharmacist, told Yle that large-scale sales—sometimes involving unopened wholesale packages—are particularly suspicious. She noted that expiration dates in listings often match recent pharmacy stock, making it clear the products were obtained through subsidies.

While Tori’s director, Jenni Tuomisto, acknowledged the issue is new to the platform, Kela has long been aware of the practice. The agency may restrict benefits for those found abusing the system, though enforcement remains challenging.

The resale market benefits both sellers, who profit from the price difference, and buyers, who acquire high-quality ointments at a discount. However, Kela bears the financial loss, effectively subsidising unofficial resellers.