Finland Seeks Systemic Changes in Health Care

HELSINKI - The report entitled The Finnish Health Care System: A Value-Based
Perspective highlights new strategic perspectives on the development needs of
health care in Finland. The report utilizes Michael E. Porter’s model on
value-based health care to analyze Finnish health care.

Over the last few years, the world-famous business strategist and
Professor of Harvard Business School Michael E. Porter has been analysing the
effectiveness of health care. One of his key observations is that current
health care systems are organised as though treatment, and not health, are
their objective. The prevailing rules encourage cost shifting whereby the
position of each organisation is secured at the expense of the overall
benefit.

The report just published uses the model created by Porter as a means of
analysis. The report describes and evaluates the operations of health care
structures on the basis of how much health they create, and gives
recommendations on developing the system.

The report, sponsored by Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, was written
by Juha Teperi, Michael E. Porter, Lauri Vuorenkoski and Jennifer F. Baron.

Juha Teperi, Programme Director at the Ministry of Social Affairs and
Health, highlights the focus on managing the whole care cycle, steering
through care outcomes, the better utilisation of technology and strengthening
the position of patients as the most important factors in the change.

“The aim of the health care system is to create as much health as
possible. Primary health care must be significantly improved and reformed in
a way that effectively transfers the focus from treating illnesses to health
promotion, prevention and early intervention,” says Teperi.

The report emphasises the position and role of patients as stewards of
their own health and the better utilisation of information technology in
reforming services. Health value can also be improved through specialisation
and competition.

“We are happy that the views of leading experts have now been brought to
the discussion in such a clear manner. The publication we have produced is
part of Sitra’s overall strategy aiming at systemic changes in Finland” says
Executive Director Hannu Hanhijarvi from Sitra’s Health Care Programme.

Download Report www.sitra.fi/en/publications.

Source: Sitra

Further Information: Sitra, Health Care Programme, Executive Director Hannu Hanhijarvi, +358-6189-9440, firstname.lastname at sitra.fi; Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Programme Director Juha Teperi, +358-9-160-724-14, firstname.lastname at stm.fi