Northern Finland’s regional health firms shut down doctor rental company due to lack of demand

A doctor rental company established by four regional health authorities in northern Finland will cease operations after demand for its services declined, Yle reports.

The company, Tervia Osaajat Oy, was created in 2024 to allow doctors to work flexibly across hospitals in Northern Ostrobothnia, Lapland, Kainuu, and Central Ostrobothnia. Its primary goal was to provide physicians with opportunities to earn additional income within the public sector while addressing staffing shortages in the region.

However, demand for the service has dropped, and hospitals have instead relied on their own staff or outsourced services. Erja Jaatinen, CEO of the parent company Tervia, cited reduced demand and rising costs as key factors behind the decision.

Kirsti Ylitalo-Katajisto, director of social and healthcare services for the Pohde health region, confirmed that hospitals no longer needed the company’s services. “The work has been managed with our own personnel or through purchased services,” she said.

Jouko Luukkonen, group CEO of Pohde, told Yle that discussions among the health regions indicated “there are no conditions to continue operations in their current form.” The final decision will be made by the company’s shareholders at a general meeting.

The company was initially launched to retain doctors in northern Finland by offering flexible work arrangements across multiple hospitals. However, changing staffing needs and cost pressures have now rendered the model unsustainable.