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The people of Finland started to enjoy better health care system than the other countries by the second half of the 1980s. There was remarkable progress in Finland Health Care System. After becoming an independent country Finland was successful in dealing with the traditional health problem of pulmonary tuberculosis. Now pneumonia and small pox have also stopped to pose a, major threat in Finland.
Finland Health Care System was directed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health was monitored by the National Board of Health. The Primary Health Care Act of 1972 predetermined the basis of medical treatment and the care which was to be offered in the local health clinics. After the act, 200 local health centers were created, and it treated a minimum of 10,000 patients.
Finland has 450 municipalities and health care is provided by each of the municipality either singly or in joint venture. Municipalities are given the right to buy health services from the private sectors too. Municipalities in Finland are now converting from primary health care system to family doctor system where each doctor has to look after 2000 patients.
Finland also provides Specialist health care to the 20 hospital districts in which it is divided. In Finland, health services are available to all irrespective of their financial status. The Public Health services are financed from partly state tax, partly from municipality and from tax revenues. Mainly in the cities the doctors, physiotherapists and dentists offer private health care. In Finland there are also few private hospitals but they are small in size.
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