Kela’s Reimbursement Policy Change Sparks Debate Over Cancer Drug Funding, Legal Compliance, and Regional Practices

Kela’s decision to stop reimbursing certain expensive medications administered in public healthcare has raised concerns about unequal access to treatment across Finland’s wellbeing services counties. The policy shift, effective from 1 July, transfers cost responsibility for these drugs—including some cancer treatments—from Kela to the counties, sparking criticism from healthcare providers, patient organisations, and now the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM), which has admitted to mishandling the communication of the change. Wellbeing services counties, however, have pushed back against Kela’s claims, arguing that their previous practices were legally justified and not driven by cost-saving motives.