IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/eujoag/v19y2022i2d10.1007_s10433-022-00699-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Health system reforms and the needs of the ageing population—an analysis of recent policy paths and reform trends in Finland and Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Liina-Kaisa Tynkkynen

    (Tampere University)

  • Jutta Pulkki

    (Tampere University)

  • Leena Tervonen-Gonçalves

    (University of Jyväskylä)

  • Pär Schön

    (Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University)

  • Bo Burström

    (Karolinska Institutet)

  • Ilmo Keskimäki

    (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)

Abstract

Population ageing with an increasing number of people experiencing complex health and social care needs challenges health systems. We explore whether and how health system reforms and policy measures adopted during the past two decades in Finland and Sweden reflect and address the needs of the older people. We discuss health system characteristics that are important to meet the care needs of older people and analyse how health policy agendas have highlighted these aspects in Finland and Sweden. The analysis is based on “most similar cases”. The two countries have rather similar health systems and are facing similar challenges. However, the policy paths to address these challenges are different. The Swedish health system is better resourced, and the affordability of care better ensured, but choice and market-oriented competition reforms do not address the needs of the people with complex health and social care needs, rather it has led to increased fragmentation. In Finland, the level of public funding is lower which may have negative impacts on people who need multiple services. However, in terms of integration and care coordination, Finland seems to follow a path which may pave the way for improved coordination of care for people with multiple care needs. Intensified monitoring and analysis of patterns of health care utilization among older people are warranted in both countries to ensure that care is provided equitably.

Suggested Citation

  • Liina-Kaisa Tynkkynen & Jutta Pulkki & Leena Tervonen-Gonçalves & Pär Schön & Bo Burström & Ilmo Keskimäki, 2022. "Health system reforms and the needs of the ageing population—an analysis of recent policy paths and reform trends in Finland and Sweden," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 221-232, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:19:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s10433-022-00699-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-022-00699-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10433-022-00699-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10433-022-00699-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Reibling, Nadine & Ariaans, Mareike & Wendt, Claus, 2019. "Worlds of Healthcare: A Healthcare System Typology of OECD Countries," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(7), pages 611-620.
    2. Groenewegen, Peter & Heinemann, Stephanie & Greß, Stefan & Schäfer, Willemijn, 2015. "Primary care practice composition in 34 countries," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(12), pages 1576-1583.
    3. Linda Enroth & Marijke Veenstra & Marja Aartsen & Agnete Aslaug Kjær & Charlotte Juul Nilsson & Stefan Fors, 2019. "Are there educational disparities in health and functioning among the oldest old? Evidence from the Nordic countries," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 415-424, December.
    4. Greer,Scott L. & Lynch,Julia & Reeves,Aaron & Falkenbach,Michelle & Gingrich,Jane & Cylus,Jonathan, 2021. "Ageing and Health," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108972871.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Iva Bužančić & Maja Ortner Hadžiabdić, 2023. "Differences in Factors Influencing Deprescribing between Primary Care Providers: Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-11, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Christophe Loussouarn & Carine Franc & Yann Videau & Julien Mousquès, 2021. "Can General Practitioners Be More Productive? The Impact of Teamwork and Cooperation with Nurses on GP Activities," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(3), pages 680-698, March.
    2. Tomasz Rokicki & Aleksandra Perkowska & Marcin Ratajczak, 2020. "Differentiation in Healthcare Financing in EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Johan Fritzell & Neda Agahi & Marja Jylhä & Tine Rostgaard, 2022. "Social inequalities in ageing in the Nordic countries," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 155-159, June.
    4. Mæhle, Per Magnus & Smeland, Sigbjørn, 2021. "Implementing cancer patient pathways in Scandinavia how structuring might affect the acceptance of a politically imposed reform," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(10), pages 1340-1350.
    5. Håvard T Rydland & Erlend L Fjær & Terje A Eikemo & Tim Huijts & Clare Bambra & Claus Wendt & Ivana Kulhánová & Pekka Martikainen & Chris Dibben & Ramunė Kalėdienė & Carme Borrell & Mall Leinsalu & Ma, 2020. "Educational inequalities in mortality amenable to healthcare. A comparison of European healthcare systems," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, July.
    6. Matthieu Cassou & Julien Mousquès & Carine Franc, 2020. "General practitioners’ income and activity: the impact of multi-professional group practice in France," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 21(9), pages 1295-1315, December.
    7. Martinussen, Pål E. & Rydland, Håvard T., 2022. "(I can't get no) satisfaction: A comparative study of healthcare recommodification in Europe, 2010-18," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    8. Das, Upasak & Singhal, Karan, 2023. "Solving it correctly: Prevalence and persistence of gender gap in basic mathematics in rural India," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    9. Cylus, Jonathan & Al Tayara, Lynn, 2021. "Health, an ageing labour force, and the economy: Does health moderate the relationship between population age-structure and economic growth?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    10. Rijken, Mieke & Hujala, Anneli & van Ginneken, Ewout & Melchiorre, Maria Gabriella & Groenewegen, Peter & Schellevis, Franζois, 2018. "Managing multimorbidity: Profiles of integrated care approaches targeting people with multiple chronic conditions in Europe," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(1), pages 44-52.
    11. Igor Sheiman & Vladimir Shevski, 2017. "Two Models of Primary Health Care Development: Russia vs. Central and Eastern European Countries," HSE Working papers WP BRP 06/PSP/2017, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    12. Berardi, Umberto, 2017. "A cross-country comparison of the building energy consumptions and their trends," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 230-241.
    13. Matthias Klumpp & Dominic Loske & Silvio Bicciato, 2022. "COVID-19 health policy evaluation: integrating health and economic perspectives with a data envelopment analysis approach," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(8), pages 1263-1285, November.
    14. Christophe Loussouarn & Carine Franc & Yann Videau & Julien Mousquès, 2019. "Coopérer plus pour travailler plus : évaluation de l’expérimentation d’infirmière de pratique avancée Asalée sur l’activité du médecin généraliste," Erudite Working Paper 2019-13, Erudite.
    15. Ellen Kuhlmann & Jean-Louis Denis & Nancy Côté & Gabriela Lotta & Stefano Neri, 2023. "Comparing Health Workforce Policy during a Major Global Health Crisis: A Critical Conceptual Debate and International Empirical Investigation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-17, March.
    16. Polin, Katherine & Hjortland, Maximilien & Maresso, Anna & van Ginneken, Ewout & Busse, Reinhard & Quentin, Wilm, 2021. "“Top-Three” health reforms in 31 high-income countries in 2018 and 2019: an expert informed overview," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(7), pages 815-832.
    17. Şık, Ayhan Serkan & Aydınoğlu, Arsev Umur & Aydın Son, Yeşim, 2021. "Assessing the readiness of Turkish health information systems for integrating genetic/genomic patient data: System architecture and available terminologies, legislative, and protection of personal dat," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(2), pages 203-212.
    18. Maura Campra & Paolo Esposito & Valerio Brescia, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and technological perspectives in healthcare: An exploratory analysis of the evolution of the anti‐corruption system through multiple case studies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 2816-2829, November.
    19. Matthias Kliegel & Susanne Iwarsson & Morten Wahrendorf & Nadia Minicuci & Marja J. Aartsen, 2020. "The European Journal of Ageing at the beginning of the Decade of Healthy Ageing," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 1-2, March.
    20. Peter Groenewegen & Esther Van Poel & Peter Spreeuwenberg & Ronald Batenburg & Christian Mallen & Liubove Murauskiene & Antoni Peris & Benoit Pétré & Emmily Schaubroeck & Stefanie Stark & Emil L. Sigu, 2022. "Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Led to Changes in the Tasks of the Primary Care Workforce? An International Survey among General Practices in 38 Countries (PRICOV-19)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-20, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:19:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s10433-022-00699-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.