Finland scores lower than neighbouring Sweden (81.5%) and Norway (71.4%) in the Contraception Atlas and comes 17th out of 46 countries ranked. With an overall score of 63.3%, the country performs well in availability of online information and access to counselling is free and confidential in municipal health centres. However, contraceptive supplies are generally not reimbursed. To counter this, Finland will pilot free contraceptives to all Finnish young people under 25 as of 2021, as committed at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 in 2019. Over 95 municipalities have already begun the pilot scheme. Finland also has the highest contraceptive prevalence in Europe (79%), followed closely by the UK (74%) and Switzerland (72%)
Recommendations:
- The Finnish government needs to ensure that all women of reproductive age enjoy reimbursements for contraception supplies and not only young people under 25.
- Schemes for reimbursements for specific population groups should be created, such as vulnerable groups to remove financial barriers in access to supplies.
- Modern contraceptive prevalence Finnish rate is 74%, the highest in Europe. Authorities should make sure that vulnerable groups have access to information on modern contraception.
Breakdown by Criteria
Policies related to supplies and counselling
- Reimbursement
❌Reimbursement within the national health system
✔️Special reimbursement for adolescents (until 19)
❌Special Reimbursement for vulnerable groups (unemployed/low income)
- Counselling
✔️Available, accessible, and affordable consultation
✔️No need for third-party consent
✔️Legal status (marital, citizenship) is not a barrier
- Prescription requirements
✔️Availability of emergency contraception without prescription
❌Availability of self-administered hormonal contraception without prescription
Availability of online information
- Type of online information
Website provided by non-government supported website
✔️Number of contraceptives - excellent
❌Info on costs of contraceptives
✔️Info on where to get contraceptives
- User friendliness
✔️Regional or minority language included
✔️Web design
✔️Discoverability of the website
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