Good vision for all

Effective eye care delivers better vision, better health, and €2 billion in healthcare savings.

Preventive eye care could save Finland billions of euros. To ensure high-quality and timely eye care, we need bold decisions and concrete actions from the next government. This will safeguard the effectiveness of our eye care system as the population ages, the need for care increases, and costs continue to rise.

The Finnish Association of Vision and Eyecare’s goal is to make Finland a model country where everyone has equal access to good vision throughout every stage of life. Good vision, healthy eyes and quality of life must be secured for all Finns.

#1
Integrate eye care into primary health care­­

The direct costs of poor vision to the wider healthcare system in Finland amount to approximately €2 billion annually. Preventive care can be strengthened by leveraging artificial intelligence and integrating eye care into primary health care.

The use of artificial intelligence in ocular imaging supports early detection, timely and continuous care, and research. Eye care must also prepare for the use of oculomics, the application of imaging and measurement data obtained from the eye to assess overall health. Already today, 16 diseases can be identified from retinal images.

A decision has already been made to implement the Kanta image archive for optometry images. Before the implementation deadline of October 1, 2029, it is essential to ensure seamless information exchange between different healthcare providers. This will help ensure that eye care services are as smooth and efficient as possible for patients.

Preventive eye care has been proven to generate savings (according to doctoral research by Joonas Taipale and Tiina Pesonen).

Here’s how:

  • Standardise primary-level vision screening and referral pathways for schoolchildren, and expand these models to adults and older people
  • Create the conditions for leveraging oculomics and artificial intelligence in ocular imaging
  • Ensure that health and social care providers have the necessary readiness, expertise and information exchange capabilities in time for the implementation of the Kanta image archive (October 1, 2029)
  • Ensure the affordability of prescribed eyeglasses and other vision aids
  • Clarify national screening and referral criteria through official guidance issued by THL and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
  • Establish national criteria for the deployment of artificial intelligence, as well as nationwide research and pilot environments that safeguard citizens’ rights

To implement the measures outlined above, the following regulatory framework, among others, should be reviewed:

#2
Reduce treatment waiting lists

Access to treatment takes too long in Finland. Every delayed diagnosis increases costs. Early diagnosis and treatment are not merely a health policy choice – they’re becoming an economic necessity.

To improve access to treatment, the division of responsibilities between optometrists, ophthalmologists and specialised healthcare providers must be clarified. At the same time, the existing expertise of optometrists should be put to better use by expanding referral rights and limited prescribing rights. This will reduce the burden on specialised healthcare and free up resources for the most demanding cases.­­

Prevention and early treatment should not be limited to serious vision problems alone. Patients’ right to timely care can be supported by establishing standardised, national disease-specific care pathways for eye conditions and diseases.

Timely treatment helps prevent problems from worsening.

Here’s how:

  • Develop new, standardised care pathways for suspected cataracts, suspected glaucoma, follow-up of stable glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy screening findings, suspected age-related macular degeneration, and unexpected findings that pose a threat to vision
  • Define the roles and responsibilities of optometrists, ophthalmologists and wellbeing services counties at the national level
  • Extend referral rights in eye health care to optometrists, in line with the models used in Sweden and Norway
  • Expand optometrists’ current limited prescribing rights to a level comparable to those of registered nurses­­
  • Make better use of the existing primary-level capacity and technology available in optical stores
  • Make service vouchers a statutory right for citizens when the treatment guarantee cannot be met
  • Develop Kela reimbursement into a genuine “health insurance” model that covers eye health services for people outside the workforce and those aged 65 and over
  • Standardise care needs assessments and referral practices

To implement the measures outlined above, the following regulatory framework, among others, should be reviewed:

#3
Improve the effectiveness of public spending

Finland’s health and social care finances are not on a sustainable footing. Every tax euro must be used as efficiently and effectively as possible. Now more than ever, the use of public funds must be transparent.

Wellbeing services counties should compare in-house production, outsourced services and service vouchers using transparent data on costs, quality and accessibility. They should be required to choose the solution that delivers the greatest overall impact, regardless of the mode of provision.

Current legislation does not ensure equal treatment of pharmacies and other businesses in the provision of healthcare services and pharmaceutical distribution. The pharmacy and pharmaceutical distribution system should be reformed to ensure the availability of services for all Finns.

Fair markets improve services.

Here’s how:

  • Require wellbeing services counties to publish production costs at the level of individual services
  • Require wellbeing services counties to provide services in the most cost-effective way, making use of public, private and third-sector providers
  • Ensure the effective functioning of healthcare services and pharmaceutical distribution, as well as equal treatment of all operators, through a comprehensive reform of the pharmacy and pharmaceutical distribution system
  • Allow patients to purchase additional services using their own funds in conjunction with the service voucher

To implement the measures outlined above, the following regulatory framework, among others, should be reviewed:

Key actions for the next government term

Näe ry proposes that during the first year of the next government term:

  1. preparations for nationwide vision screening models be launched
  2. legislation be enacted to grant optometrists limited referral and prescribing authority­­
  3. national care pathways for cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration be adopted
  4. pilot the development of care pathways for identifying and managing vision and hearing impairments in home care
  5. ensure that health and social care providers have the necessary readiness, expertise and interoperable information exchange capabilities in time the implementation of the Kanta image archive (October 1, 2029)
  6. establish a research and pilot programme for oculomics
  7. introduce accessibility, quality and effectiveness indicators for eye care
  8. require wellbeing services counties to select their service delivery models on the basis of transparent cost and quality data.
Read Näe ry’s statements and policy positions