Primary care physicians and use of health services in Finland.

Abstract

This article presents results from a study investigating the relationships between the availability of resources and the use of health services in Finland focusing on the health centre physician supply variable. The study uses observations from other studies on the subject and knowledge of the Finnish and other health services as a point of departure. It tries, by using the systems approach, to examine the effects on use of the health services resources considered to be important from the organizational and health policy points of view. The specific aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between the health centre physicians and other health centre resources and use in various health care sectors. The results suggest that the organization of primary health care, including the primary care physicians, has a profound potential effect on the use and costs of the total health care system.