Healthcare inequality rising in Finland, warns Medical Association

The Finnish Medical Association has warned that rising patient fees in healthcare will worsen inequality and deter people from seeking treatment, as criticism mounts against the government’s latest budget framework decisions.

In a statement released Wednesday, the association said healthcare disparities are growing rather than narrowing, citing the government’s decision to increase patient fees—including a 20% rise in health centre charges—as a key factor. Repeated fee hikes, it argued, will further erode trust in the public healthcare system.

The Medical Association also criticised the continuation of the so-called “Kela model” for those over 65, which it said has failed to reduce public healthcare usage and primarily benefits higher earners.

Unions and cancer organisations condemn cuts

The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL) called the government’s budget framework “harsh,” arguing it deepens inequality, weakens public services, and exacerbates economic struggles. JHL chair Håkan Ekström dismissed claims of responsible fiscal management, stating that fee increases disproportionately harm low-income individuals.

Cancer organisations warned that cuts to STEA grants—state funding for NGOs—will permanently alter the third-sector landscape and undermine their ability to meet growing service demands. Secretary General Juha Pekka Turunen stressed that higher patient fees could deter cancer patients from seeking care, compounding existing financial strain.

“Equal and effective cancer treatment requires accessible primary healthcare and low barriers to seeing a doctor,” Turunen said, urging an assessment of the cuts’ impact.

The budget framework, finalised on Wednesday, has faced widespread backlash for prioritising austerity measures over public service equity.