Wellbeing services counties receive 400 million euros based on the promotion of health and well-being

The amount of government funding for health and social services allocated to wellbeing services counties is mainly based on residents’ service needs, which are assessed on the basis of morbidity.

1.46 per cent of the funding, or approximately 400 million euros, is allocated to the counties based on the promotion of health and wellbeing. For this purpose, THL calculates so-called HYTE coefficients, which determine the amount of funding allocated to each county.

Wellbeing services counties will receive funding allocated according to the HYTE coefficient for the first time in 2026.

The aim is to prevent diseases and social exclusion and to support functional capacity

The aim of the HYTE coefficient is to encourage wellbeing services counties to invest in promotive and preventive work within health and social services.

Preventive and promotive work is of primary importance in order to curb the growth of health and social services expenditure and to maintain and improve the population’s wellbeing, health and functional capacity.

The funding allocated to counties based on the coefficient is not earmarked, but its purpose is to encourage counties to take a wide range of measures that particularly:

• prevent common chronic diseases
• promote the functional capacity of older people and reduce their accidents
• prevent social exclusion
• promote employment and social wellbeing.

HYTE coefficients are calculated based on two types of indicators

The value of the HYTE coefficient is determined on the basis of two types of indicators: process indicators describing activities and outcome indicators describing results. Both carry equal weight. In total, there are 11 indicators. 

The process indicators are:

• Assessment of support needs of those absent from child health clinic check-ups
• Assessment of support needs of those absent from school health care check-ups
• MMR vaccination coverage among children
• Brief alcohol interventions
• Lifestyle counselling for people at risk of type 2 diabetes
• Health check-ups for the unemployed.

Outcome indicators, in turn, measure changes in the population’s wellbeing and health status.

The outcome indicators are:

• Patients treated in hospital due to injuries and poisonings
• Hip fractures among people aged 65 and over, as a percentage of the corresponding age group
• Young people aged 18–24 not in employment, education or military service, as a percentage of the age group
• Long-term recipients of basic social assistance aged 25–64, as a percentage of the age group.

People aged 18–34 receiving disability pension due to mental disorders, as a percentage of the corresponding age group

“In the promotion of health and wellbeing, the most important factor is cross-sectoral, long-term work. The indicators have been selected so that they measure the outcomes of this work at population level,” says Timo Ståhl, Leading Expert at THL.

The database consists of extensive register and statistical data

A wide range of register and statistical data is utilised in calculating the HYTE coefficients. The data sources include, for example, the vaccination register, the Care Register for Health Care and employment statistics.

The most recent available data for each indicator is used in the calculation, and the data must also be available for all wellbeing services counties.

Although Finland has internationally excellent research and register data, they do not cover all important content areas. For example, there are not yet indicators for social services, which is due to the availability of data.

The database used for calculating HYTE coefficients is continuously developed. New indicators are introduced as reliable and comparable data become available.

Municipalities continue to bear significant responsibility for promoting health and wellbeing

Under the wellbeing services counties reform that entered into force at the beginning of 2023, responsibilities for promoting health and wellbeing were divided between wellbeing services counties and municipalities.

Primary responsibility remains with municipalities, whose many functions, such as education, sports, youth and cultural services, food services, land use planning and transport arrangements, provide good conditions for promoting residents’ wellbeing and health.

The responsibilities of wellbeing services counties are, in turn, linked to health and social services.

Municipalities receive government funding based on their own HYTE coefficient.

THL submits the HYTE coefficients for wellbeing services counties annually in September to the Ministry of Finance for the counties’ funding calculations.