According to Kela, the Finnish social insurance institution, the continuity of care in both private and public healthcare services has significantly deteriorated from 2003 to 2022, particularly among non-specialist doctors. The report indicates that this decline affects various medical specialties and has meaningful implications for the quality of care, costs, and overall patient experience. Tero Kujanpää, a research physician at Kela, emphasized that this trend signals a broader change within the entire healthcare system in Finland.

The decline is most pronounced among non-specialist physicians, suggesting that patients may face challenges in receiving consistent healthcare from their primary care providers. Specifically, this deterioration is noted in certain specialty fields, such as orthopedics, pediatrics, and gynecology, where continuity of care has become markedly poorer. Such a trend raises concerns regarding patient outcomes, as established relationships between patients and their providers are critical for effective long-term health management.

As the Finnish healthcare system grapples with these changes, stakeholders may need to address the systemic issues leading to this decline in care continuity. The implications could potentially provoke discussions about healthcare policies and resources allocated to improving the quality of care in both public and private sectors, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive and continuous medical attention in the future.