Helsinki introduces entrepreneurial doctors to ensure every citizen has a personal physician

The city of Helsinki will launch a new initiative next year to ensure every resident has a designated personal doctor and nurse.

This change moves away from a system where only those requiring frequent social and health services had assigned professionals. Under the new model, even residents who rarely need medical attention will be linked to a specific doctor who will handle phone calls, messages, and urgent cases. The city is introducing ten entrepreneurial doctors to help achieve this goal.

These doctors will not be on the city's payroll, allowing them to set their own schedules and choose whether to focus solely on health centers or take on patients in other areas like schools. The city will provide office space and a nursing partner, but the doctors will be responsible for arranging their own substitutes during long absences. This model aims to attract experienced physicians who prefer autonomy and may be less likely to stay in a standard city position.

Leena Turpeinen, the director of Health and Substance Abuse Services, says the move focuses on the continuity of care. The city received four million euros in state funding to support this transition. Officials plan to track how often patients see the same professional, as research suggests familiar doctors provide better care for common illnesses. The city also plans to monitor whether these entrepreneurial doctors refer patients to expensive specialized hospital care less frequently.

Politicians will decide whether to continue the program at the end of the decade.