Permit and data requests – Data requests under the Secondary Use Act

Service description

Aggregated statistical data can be requested from THL’s registry datasets subject to the Act on the Secondary Use of Health and Social Data through a secondary-use data request.

You may submit a data request under the Secondary Use Act if the following conditions are met:

  • The data originate from a THL dataset that falls under the scope of the Secondary Use Act;
  • The data are required in aggregated, tabular form and do not contain personal data;
  • The data are used for a purpose permitted under the Secondary Use Act.

Permitted purposes for secondary-use data requests include:

  • statistics;
  • scientific research;
  • development and innovation activities;
  • education;
  • knowledge-based management;
  • steering and supervision of social and health care authorities;
  • planning and reporting tasks of authorities.

Submitting a secondary-use data request

Before completing the application

  • Familiarise yourself with the application instructions and terms and conditions.
    • Instructions (in finnish)
    • The terms and conditions are available on the application form
  • Familiarise yourself with the datasets and, if necessary, contact THL’s data stewards for guidance;
  • Prepare a tabulation plan

Download and complete the application

  1. Download the application form
  2. Complete the application form. Detailed instructions for completing the form are available in a separate guidance document.
  3. Please ensure that your message includes:
    • Application form
    • Tabulation plan
    • If necessary, also include previous data request decisions or other agreed attachments.
  4. Submit the application with attachments to THL’s Registry at kirjaamo(at)thl.fi.


Decision and follow-up

Progress of the application process:
Data permit processors review the application and forward it to the data extractor for assessment.

The data extractor evaluates the tabulation plan and provides a cost estimate. At this stage, it is still possible to make changes to the datasets and the tabulation plan.

Once you approve the cost estimate, the data extractor confirms that the application is ready for decision.

The data permit processors forward the case for decision-making.

Once the decision has been made, you will be granted the right to use the data in accordance with the decision.

Data extraction request

You may submit a data extraction request once you have received a favourable data request decision. Instructions for submitting the request are included as an attachment to the decision.

Fees

Decisions on secondary-use data requests and data extraction are subject to a fee.

  • The fee for a decision concerning a new information request is 600 euros.
  • The fee for a decision on an information request related to an application for amendment is 100 euros.
  • The hourly rate for data extraction is 214 euros/hour + VAT, totalling 268.57 euros/hour.

The fees are based on Section 3, Subsection 2 of the Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on chargeable services of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (106/2025).
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Decree on Chargeable Services of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (Finlex)(in finnish)

How to contact us

Processing of applications and guidance related to them is provided by:
tietoluvat(at)thl.fi

Support and guidance related to the creation of tables is provided by:
tietopyynnot(at)thl.fi

Further information is provided by:

Joona Klemetti
Senior Specialist
Tel. +358 29 524 7734
Email: [email protected]