Contact Point provides training on cross-border healthcare
30.10.2025
The Contact Point for Cross-border Healthcare is currently planning a training package on cross-border healthcare. The training materials are primarily intended for professionals who, in their work, deal with matters related to cross-border healthcare. In the planning, we have taken into account the views of employees of wellbeing services counties and patient organisations.
Why does the Contact Point provide training?
The statutory task of the Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare is to share information on using health services in international situations. In addition to advising individual clients, we also provide guidance to professionals working with these matters, such as healthcare professionals.
Upon request, we have previously organised training sessions for our various stakeholders as well as for individual clients. The Contact Point is now planning a more extensive training package, which will also include video materials.
In autumn 2024, we organised a seminar and a workshop for our stakeholders on increasing patients’ awareness of cross-border healthcare. The workshop highlighted that, for example, the employees of wellbeing services counties would greatly benefit from training on these topics, enabling them to better advise their clients. Participants particularly requested training focused on primary healthcare.
Survey for wellbeing services counties and patient organisations
To support the planning of the training package, we carried out a survey in May 2025 to explore the training needs of employees of wellbeing services counties and patient organisations. We received a total of 86 responses — 82 from wellbeing services counties and 4 from patient organisations. The anonymous respondents included nurses, doctors, administrators and supervisors.
Respondents expressed a need for training providing general information about cross-border healthcare. Topics such as the right to healthcare for patients moving to Finland and healthcare for travellers also attracted interest.
Most respondents requested online Teams training sessions and recordings of the sessions, while shorter training videos were also welcomed. Many emphasised the need for clear instructions and practical examples for staff in wellbeing services counties.
Training videos to be published next year
The Contact Point is currently developing the content and format of the training videos. The first videos will be published in 2026. Based on the survey results, we have decided to begin with general information about cross-border healthcare.
We continue to welcome suggestions for the content of the training package. You can contact us by email at yhteyspiste@kela.fi