The majority of wellbeing services counties have already adopted or are in the process of adopting a digital clinic or a digital health and social services centre, i.e. a digital and often chat-based alternative to attendance services in primary health care. At the beginning of February 2025, more than 3.3 million Finns already live in an area where a public digital clinic is available.

Population coverage of public digital clinics continued to grow in January (see Figure 1). For example, the digital health and social care centre in the North Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county, which has been gradually expanding municipality by municipality, now covers all municipalities in the county (see Figure 2).¹ The North Savo wellbeing services county’s digital service platform OmaSavo had already launched in December, and in January a nurse chat service, among other features, was opened on the platform.² The Kymenlaakso wellbeing services county launched the Oma Kymenlaakso digital platform and, among other things, health-centre chat services.³ The Southwest Finland wellbeing services county opened health-centre chat services in the Varha app.⁴

Further rollouts of digital platforms and digital clinics can be expected around the country in the spring. Development work on digital services in the wellbeing services counties doesn’t end with launching a platform; rapid development and expansion of functionalities and services is anticipated. As we understand it, several areas aim to gradually bring all offered digital services onto a single platform. 

Figure 2: In which municipalities a public digital clinic is available.

Explanation: The figure runs through February 2025. The definition of a digital clinic is based on our research group’s own interpretation. The chart does not include digital services of individual outsourced health centres or Apotti’s Maisa service.

Read our blog:

What is a digital clinic?

What are the differences between digital clinic solutions in wellbeing services counties?

Who uses digital clinics?

Authors of the blog:

Tapio Haaga, Vivi Mauno, What is Kortelainen, Oskari Nokso-Koivisto, Tanja Saxell and Lauri Sääksvuori

1. Source: https://pohde.fi/ajankohtaista/uutiset/digitaalinen-sote-keskus-kattaa-nyt-kaikki-hyvinvointialueen-kunnat/ (read 11.2.2025) [↩]
2. Source: https://pshyvinvointialue.fi/fi/w/pohjois-savon-hyvinvointialueen-sairaanhoitajan-chat-kaynnistyy-13.-tammikuuta (read 11.2.2025) [↩]
3. Source: https://kymenhva.fi/uutiset/oma-kymenlaakso-uudistaa-hyvinvointialueen-digitaaliset-palvelut/ (read 11.2.2025) [↩]
4. Source: https://www.varha.fi/fi/ajankohtaista/sote-keskusten-ja-tyks-laboratorioiden-chatit-ovat-avautuneet-varha-sovelluksessa (read 11.2.2025) [↩]