Outpatient specialised health care

Data on outpatient specialised health care are gathered from health service providers annually. The majority of the data are obtained as part of the Hospital Benchmarking data collection by National Institute for Health and Welfare, in addition to which National Institute for Health and Welfare separately collects statistical data from specialist-led health centres not covered by the benchmarking data collection. Between 1994 and 2001, the statistics on visits in outpatient specialised health care were compiled by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities. The data cover all outpatient specialised health care provided by municipalities and joint municipal boards, including data on service providers, patients and treatment received by them. Included are also outpatient services in three private hospitals.