Occupational Healthcare for Employers: A Quick Guide

Sign a written service agreement with an occupational health care provider.

You can choose your provider from healthcare units in wellbeing services counties, municipal companies, joint occupational health care centres, or private medical centres.

The agreement should determine the scale of services provided, including whether medical care is also included in addition to the required preventive healthcare.

Preventive healthcare focuses on maintaining employees’ work ability and preventing work-related illnesses and accidents. Your chosen occupational health service will invite workers to health checks, and provide guidance and advice.

Note that preventive healthcare does not cover medical care. The provision of medical care at the general practitioner level is voluntary for employers and should be agreed on separately.

After choosing a healthcare provider and signing the service agreement, the provider conducts a workplace survey.

This involves discussing your company’s needs with the provider and defining the tasks for occupational healthcare in the form of an action plan. This should be reviewed at least once a year.

The costs covered by occupational health care include, for example, the preparation of a workplace survey and action plan, health checks, and related examinations.

Services that are covered by other compensation mechanisms, such as dental care and rehabilitation costs, are not covered.

Your company can apply for compensation for occupational health care and medical care costs from Kela.

Compensation typically amounts to around half of the calculated maximum costs.

Usually, the occupational health care provider sends the employer a pre-completed claim form with the information on the costs of occupational health care.