Mission
Kela looks after basic security for all persons resident in Finland through the different stages of their lives. Kela counts among its customers everyone living in Finland and anyone living outside Finland who is covered under the Finnish social security system.
The schemes administered by Kela cover such areas of social security as family benefits, health insurance, rehabilitation, basic unemployment security, housing benefits, financial aid for students and basic pensions. In addition, Kela provides disability benefits, conscripts' allowances and assistance for immigrants.
Kela is also responsible for
- informing the public about benefits and services
- carrying out research contributing to the development of social security
- issuing statistics, projections and estimates necessary to advance planning and continuous monitoring of benefit schemes and other operations
- proposing improvements to the legislation governing social security
Kela is also responsible for providing the National Archive of Health Information (KanTa) services. KanTa is a collective term used for a range of national health care information systems including ePrescription, eArchive, a national pharmaceutical database, and a portal for citizens to access their own health information online. The services are intended for health care providers, pharmacies and citizens throughout Finland and they will be opened in stages.
Updated 10/22/12