This is the primary form of health care in Finland for people in employment. Its purpose is to promote

• the health work ability and functional capacity of employees
• the prevention of occupational diseases and accidents
• healthy and safe work and working environments
• the smooth running of the work community.

Employers in Finland are obliged to arrange preventive health care for employees. Occupational health care can include medical care and other health care services, but these are not obligatory. Occupational health care is arranged by municipal health centres for employers. Self-employed people can join occupational health care arrangements.

The Finnish Social Insurance Institution pays employers half the occupational health care costs. Occupational health care is regulated by its own legislation and by the laws on public health and health insurance. Oversight is provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the State Provincial Offices and occupational health and safety authorities.

Further information

National Occupational Safety and Health Profile of Finland (MSAH's publications 2006:8)
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health