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Choosing the doctor, nurse or other professional who will treat me

The possibility of choosing the health care professional who will treat you depends on your place of residence and care provider and the place of treatment. The choice of professional treating you depends on how your care can be appropriately delivered in your place of treatment. If you wish to be treated by a particular doctor, nurse or other legalised health and social services care professional, you may express your wish when making an appointment, for example. 

Please note that it is possible that your wish cannot always be fulfilled. In public healthcare, the patient’s freedom to choose the healthcare professional who will treat them is affected by various factors, such as pair work practices, the population responsibility and multidisciplinary team work. Thus, when you choose your doctor, you also choose the nurse working with him or her or the whole team treating you. Your choice may not be possible, however, if your health and social services centre's doctor or doctor-nurse team is unable to accept new patients within the constraints of their working hours.


Text edited by: Suomi.fi editorial team
In collaboration with: Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSAH), The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
Updated: 27/12/2022