Finland’s social and welfare services now better than ever, says new professor

Finland’s social and health services are of higher quality now than at any previous time, according to Paulus Torkki, a newly appointed professor specialising in healthcare productivity, as reported by Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Torkki, who currently serves as an associate professor of healthcare production economics at the University of Helsinki, will begin a joint professorship in May at LUT University in Lappeenranta and the South Karelia Wellbeing Services County. He argues that while media coverage often paints an overly negative picture of the system, the reality is far more positive—particularly in specialised healthcare, which he describes as world-class.

“Many diseases that were once fatal can now be treated,” Torkki stated. “The quality of healthcare services has never been better.”

However, he acknowledges persistent challenges, including gaps in long-term and multi-morbidity care, as well as unequal access when patients require both social and health services. Administrative burdens also remain a major inefficiency, with a significant portion of professionals’ time still consumed by documentation rather than direct patient care.

Torkki’s new role will focus on research, teaching, and hands-on service development, including on-site collaboration with hospitals and health centres to streamline workflows. He emphasised the need for a national dialogue to define what services can realistically be provided within existing budgets.

“With finite resources, we must publicly decide what we can promise citizens,” he said. “There’s still room to cut low-value activities and refocus on what truly benefits patients.”

South Karelia, where Torkki will be based, faces rapid ageing and high service demand alongside pressure to reduce costs. While he declined to speculate on whether the region’s wellbeing services county will remain independent, he stressed that his immediate priority is improving operations under the current structure.

His professorship, funded with €350,000 by the wellbeing services county, is expected to yield far greater returns through efficiency gains. Torkki also plans to engage in public debate, advocating for a values-based approach to healthcare rather than cost-driven decision-making alone.

“We absolutely need a national conversation—not just about the price of services, but about their content and impact,” he said.