Supervision of healthcare in Finland

Valvira guides and supervises the operations of healthcare professionals and healthcare units in both the public and the private sector. The task of Valvira is to

• maintain the register of healthcare professionals
• investigate a complaint when it is suspected that a medical error or malpractice has contributed to the death or severe injury (in any other case, the complaint is investigated by the Regional State Administrative Agency)
• monitor fulfilment of time limits under the care guarantee.

Valvira grants the following licences:

• rights to practice for healthcare professionals
• licences to provide private healthcare services in the case of operations in the area of more than one Regional State Administrative Agency (in any other case, the licence is granted by the Regional State Administrative Agency)
• permits for termination of pregnancy and sterilisation in certain cases.

The Regional State Administrative Agencies guide and supervise providers of health services

The Regional State Administrative Agency licenses private healthcare and social welfare operators when they have operations in the area of only one Regional State Administrative Agency. In addition, it deals with complaints and advises clients if they consider that there are serious deficiencies in the services or in their quality.

Healthcare employers must supervise their own operations

Healthcare employers have the primary responsibility for supervising their own operations. Employers must supervise, for example, employees, facilities and equipment. The wellbeing services county and the private service provider must prepare a self-supervision programme for the tasks and services for which they are responsible.

The operations of public healthcare are also supervised by the audit committees of the municipalities and joint municipal authorities. Their task is to assess the fulfilment of the economic and operational objectives of the municipality or local authority corporation. The audit committee reports its observations to the council of the municipality or joint authority of the hospital district.

Private healthcare companies must have a licence for their operations

Private healthcare companies must have a licence for their operations. The licence is granted by the Regional State Administrative Agency in whose area the company operates. If a company operates in the area of more than one Regional State Administrative Agency, the licence is granted by Valvira.

The private service provider must have a manager approved by the licensing authority, who is responsible for health services and for ensuring that the operations meet the requirements pursuant to law.

Fimea supervises the pharmaceutical sector

The Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea regulates medicines, medical devices, blood and tissue products and biobanks and develops the pharmaceutical sector in Finland. In addition, the agency’s tasks include licensing and regulatory duties, research and development and producing and providing information on medicines. Among its other duties, Fimea grants licences to pharmacies and monitors adverse effects of medicines.