The launch of the wellbeing services counties brought about a change in the use of patient and client data – The My Kanta Pages serve citizens as before | KelaSkip to content

The launch of the wellbeing services counties brought about a change in the use of patient and client data – The My Kanta Pages serve citizens as before

Published 23/1/2023

When the sharing of patient and client data is smooth within the wellbeing services county, there are benefits not only for healthcare and social services professionals but also for citizens. The professionals will continue to be able to view and utilise the data in connection with the provision of treatment and services.

At the turn of the year, the wellbeing services counties took responsibility for organising public healthcare and social welfare services. This also affects how patient and client data is shared through the Kanta Services.

A separate register of patient and client data has been created for each wellbeing services county. The registers contain the patient and client data of public health and social services operators who have previously operated in the area.

The client’s patient and prescription data can be utilised within the entire wellbeing services county in public healthcare in connection with treatment. Correspondingly, social welfare client data can be utilised in the social services of the entire wellbeing services county, if necessary. In practice, this means that a healthcare professional will be able to utilise patient data produced in various units, such as primary healthcare and specialised healthcare, within the wellbeing services county.

It is important that the sharing of information is smooth throughout the wellbeing services county. When a health and social services professional has comprehensive information about the client, the professional can provide high-quality care and services.

The principle of data use is the same as before. Health and social services professionals can make use of patient and client data, if it is necessary for the care and services provided for the client. A person’s data can be used only by those professionals with whom the person has a client or treatment relationship and who have the right to access the person’s data in order to perform their duties.

New information about the Kanta Services for citizens

Due to changes following the introduction of the new wellbeing services counties, all citizens will receive a notification explaining what the Kanta Services are, how their data are used in health and social services, and how they can influence the use of their data. This notification is titled ‘Information about the Kanta Services’.

The most convenient way for you to read and confirm receipt of ‘Information about the Kanta Services’ is on the My Kanta Pages. This notification has been available for reading and confirming receipt on the My Kanta Pages since November 2022.

“If you have not previously confirmed the receipt of the new information about the Kanta Services, it will open on your My Kanta Pages first thing when you log into the service,” notes Outi Lehtokari, Head of Service Operations at Kela's Kanta Services.

You can also be given the same information in person at a healthcare appointment, but in some health care organisations the confirmation of receiving the information cannot yet be saved in the data system.

The My Kanta Pages serve residents in all the wellbeing services counties

The launch of the wellbeing services counties will not affect the operation of the My Kanta Pages. On the My Kanta Pages, citizens can still conveniently handle their own health affairs.

“On the My Kanta Pages, you can also see your own health and prescription information when you have been treated in another wellbeing services county or in private healthcare,” Ms Lehtokari says.

The use of one’s data can be influenced by consents and denials of consent to data sharing

The consents and denials of consent to data sharing can be used for determining the patient and client data that various public and private healthcare and social welfare service providers are allowed to share with one another.

“When a citizen submits a consent to data sharing, the data is also shared between the wellbeing services counties and between the private and public sectors. With consent to data sharing, you can make sure that the information is available to the professionals treating you,” Ms Lehtokari says.

With denials of consent to data sharing, citizens can restrict, for example, what appointment or prescription information can be disclosed in healthcare to other wellbeing services counties and between the wellbeing services counties and private service providers.

However, if a citizen denies disclosure of their data, this does not prevent the use of the data within a single register; i.e. within the health care services of their own wellbeing services county, for example.

Consents and denials of consent to data sharing can be determined on the My Kanta Pages and when visiting healthcare units.

More information

Last modified 5/3/2024