Kanta-Häme cuts optional healthcare for 6,500 employees

Kanta-Häme’s wellbeing services county will remove optional medical care from the occupational health services of about 6,500 employees, targeting annual savings of around one million euros, Yle reports.

The change will be phased in. At the end of October, medical care will be limited to musculoskeletal problems affecting work ability, mental health disorders and treatment for workplace accidents. Care for infections will be dropped entirely. From the start of next year, employees will have access only to statutory occupational health services.

The county’s board approved the change as part of its savings measures. Optional occupational health services cost just over 1.3 million euros in 2025. After reimbursements from Kela, Finland’s social insurance institution, the net annual cost was about one million euros.

Statutory occupational health services include workplace assessments, health checks and monitoring and support for employees’ ability to work. The county plans to monitor the effects of the change, including any impact on sick leave.

In a document prepared for the county board, officials identified possible risks including delays in accessing care and longer periods of sick leave. HR manager Kati Koppinen said employees had not yet been consulted in detail, as the board made its decision about a week ago. She said there were likely to be questions and concerns among staff.

Yle also asked three major healthcare companies about employers’ interest in reducing occupational health services. Terveystalo and Mehiläinen said companies are examining costs more closely. Terveystalo’s Laura Karotie said some employers have extended the period of short sick leave employees can take with a manager’s approval, avoiding a medical appointment solely to obtain a certificate. Chat services and brief consultations are also among the possible cost-saving options.

Mehiläinen’s Antti Miettinen said employers that reduce their occupational health packages often cut additional services, such as short-term psychotherapy. Karotie said companies may also drop services that are not directly related to employees’ ability to work, such as non-urgent removal of skin lesions. Pihlajalinna did not respond to Yle’s questions.