Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela): Statistics on reimbursement entitlements in respect of medicines
Keywords
medicines
chronic disease
diabetes
entitlement to special refunds
Classifications
Geographical classification
Municipality, sub-region, region, area for the regional state administrative agency, major region, Mainland Finland/Åland, hospital district, university hospital special responsibility area, whole country
Classification by sex
male, female, combined
Age classification
Ages 25-39
Data content
The indicator gives the percentage of people entitled to special refunds (75%) of medicines for diabetes in the 25-39 age group at the end of the calendar year. The cost of medicines is reimbursed for persons suffering from certain severe chronic diseases either under the Higher (100%) or Lower (75%) Special Refund Category.
Interpretation
The patient is eligible to special refund if the disease is chronic and severe and requires long-term medication. The Social Insurance Institution confirms the diagnosis and the severity of the disease on the basis of a certificate issued by a specialist. The Higher (100%) Special Refund Category includes diabetes patients meeting the Social Insurance Institution's criteria concerning the severity of the disease. Although the diabetes patients included in the Register of Insured Persons Entitled to Special Reimbursement of Medicine Expenses may suffer from either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, most young adult patients have type 1 diabetes. However, type 2 diabetes, which is associated with obesity, is becoming increasingly prevalent even among relatively young adults.
Restrictions
Individual level data are confidential. For the sake of privacy protection, no municipality level data with less than 4 cases are published.
Additional information
Legislation
Sickness Insurance Act
Recommendations
The indicator can be used to monitor the attainment of the targets set in the Health 2015 public health programme.
