ABSTRACT
In the late 1960s, international comparisons revealed that, despite high mortality and high perceived morbidity, the utilisation rates of ambulatory health care were low in Finland. After a period of centralised administration, Finnish health policy and health care have entered a phase of decentralisation. An English language description of Finnish health care can be found in brochures published by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Health care provision and financing involve a combination of central direction and local self-government, and an interplay of public and private services. The emphasis on equal access to care, on primary care and prevention were already part of the Finnish tradition when WHO introduced its 'Health for AH' (HFA) programme. During the period of expansion of health care provision, legislation and direction from central government were important tools, backed by detailed resource allocation.
