Health care for upper secondary students is being reformed – new digital health survey helps time services according to need
From autumn 2026, all students starting upper secondary education will complete a new digital health survey at the beginning of their studies. The reform changes the timing of health examinations so that support reaches students when they need it most.
The digital survey replaces paper forms – health examinations remain available to all
At the start of upper secondary studies, all students will complete a digital health survey. It replaces the previous paper forms and supports the public health nurse in assessing who should be offered a health examination already during the first year and who later.
Health examinations carried out by a public health nurse and a doctor will continue to be provided to all students of compulsory education age. The examination will be arranged at the latest in the year the student turns 18. If the survey indicates a need for support, the examination will be arranged already during the first year of studies.
For adult students, i.e. those aged 19 and over, there is a separate digital health survey, based on which examinations are arranged according to need.
“The student always has the right to seek student health care services regardless of the survey,” emphasises Johanna Jahnukainen, Development Manager at THL, who has been involved in preparing the service reform.
“The digital survey helps the public health nurse to identify in advance who needs support and where, enabling better encounters with young people and more targeted support.”
The survey is completed via Omaolo and requires strong authentication
The digital health survey is an online questionnaire in the Omaolo service that assesses the student’s health, well-being and study ability. It is available in Finnish, Swedish and English. If using the digital survey is not possible, the student can request a paper version from the public health nurse.
“The survey is completed in the Omaolo service and requires strong authentication – in practice, online banking credentials or a mobile certificate. If the young person does not yet have these, summer is a good time to arrange them before autumn,” Jahnukainen advises.
To complete the survey, the student will receive a personal invitation link from the educational institution’s public health nurse, for example via a Wilma message during the autumn term of the first study year. When logging in, it is important to ensure that the correct Omaolo link provided by the public health nurse is used.
Pre-call health check for conscription integrated into student health care
Under the legislative reform, from 2027 onwards, the doctor’s health examination in upper secondary student health care will also include the pre-call health check for conscription. The new digital health survey replaces the Defence Forces’ separate health questionnaire. A unified operating model will increase equality in health care among young people.
The health examination will be carried out for the entire age group at the same time. Women will be asked to provide separate consent during the examination for assessment of fitness for military service. The examination will be conducted by the wellbeing services county in which the student’s educational institution is located.
Mer information
Johanna Jahnukainen
Development manager
THL
tel. 029 524 8032
[email protected]