Presentation
I am a senior researcher at Kela’s Research Unit. In particular, my areas of research include the use and uptake of medicines and pharmaceutical policy. I am also involved in preparing the reports Kela issues on price and reimbursement status applications for medicinal products as well as in other expert tasks and reporting duties related to medicinal products.
Expertise
- use of medicines
- reimbursement system for medicine expenses
- social pharmacy
Ongoing research projects
- New Outpatient Cancer Medicines: Reimbursement and Uptake
- Indicators of Pharmacotherapy: A Joint Project of Fimea and Kela
Previous research projects
- Long-Term Use of Sedatives and Hypnotics in Finland
- The Effects of the Changes in the Special Reimbursement Rate of Type 2 Diabetes Medicines on the Use of Diabetes Medicines and Take-Up of Social Assistance
Publications
- Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Kurko T, et al. Long-term benzodiazepine use and risk of labour market marginalization in Finland – A cohort study with five-year follow-up. European Psychiatry. Published online 2024:1-23. doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.1745
- Eronen, S.-T., Kurko, T., Kivelä, S.-L., Paunio, T., Airaksinen, M., & Rantamäki, T. (2024). Sleep medicines are often prescribed for older adults (≥75 years) without appropriate dosing instructions: A nationwide retrospective register study in Finland. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13661
- Sarnola K, Koskinen H, Klintrup K, Astrup C, Kurko T: Uptake and availability of outpatient care cancer medicines authorized in 2010-2021 in Nordic countries – Survey for competent authorities. BMC Health Services Research 23, 1437 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10421-x
- Kurko T, Koskinen H, Sarnola K. Uusien syöpälääkkeiden kliiniseen näyttöön liittyy epävarmuutta, Suomen Lääkärilehti 2022; 32: 1272-1274.
- Rättö H, Kurko T, Martikainen JE, Aaltonen K.The impact of a co-payment increase on the consumption of type 2 antidiabetics - A nationwide interrupted time series analysis.Health Policy. 2021 Sep;125(9):1166-1172. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.05.007.
- Taipale H, Särkilä H, Tanskanen A, Kurko T, Taiminen T, Tiihonen J, Sund R, Tuulio-Henriksson A, Saastamoinen L, Hietala J. Incidence of and Characteristics Associated With Long-term Benzodiazepine Use in Finland. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Oct 1;3(10):e2019029. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19029.
- Timberlake DS, Joensuu J, Kurko T, Rimpelä AH, Nevalainen J. Examining retail purchases of cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapy in Finland. Tob Induc Dis. 2019 May 3;17:39. doi: 10.18332/tid/108537.
- Koskinen , H , Juntunen , L , Junttila , T & Kurko , T. , Kohtaavatko saatavuus ja hyödyt? Korvausjärjestelmään hyväksytyt uudet syöpälääkkeet , Suomen lääkärilehti . 74(6): 327-330, 2019.
- Kurko T, Saastamoinen L, Tuulio-Henriksson A ym. Bentsodiatsepiinien pitkäaikaiskäyttö on vähentynyt. Suom Lääkäril 2018;73:1292–7.
- Soppi A, Heino P, Kurko T, Maljanen T, Saastamoinen L, Aaltonen K. Growth of diabetes drug expenditure decomposed-A nationwide analysis.Health Policy. 2018 Dec;122(12):1326-1332. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2018.09.008.
- Suomalaisen Lääkäriseuran Duodecimin ja Suomen Yleislääketieteen yhdistyksen asettama työryhmä. Tupakka- ja nikotiiniriippuvuuden ehkäisy ja hoito. Käypä hoito -suositus (Julkaistu: 19.06.2018)
- Tähkäpää SM, Saastamoinen L, Airaksinen M, Tuulio-Henriksson A, Aalto-Setälä T, Kurko T.Decreasing Trend in the Use and Long-Term Use of Benzodiazepines Among Young Adults. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2018 May;28(4):279-284. doi: 10.1089/cap.2017.0140. .
- Kurko T, Saastamoinen LK, Tuulio-Henriksson A, Taiminen T, Tiihonen J, Airaksinen M, Hietala J.Trends in the long-term use of benzodiazepine anxiolytics and hypnotics: A national register study for 2006 to 2014. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2018 Jun;27(6):674-682. doi: 10.1002/pds.4551. Epub 2018 May 4.
- Kurko T, Heino P, Martikainen JE, Aaltonen K. Diabeteksen lääkehoidot ja korvaustason laskun vaikutus omavastuisiin. Suomen lääkärilehti 73 (24-31) . 1584 – 1590, 2018
Publications and research projects
EMA Approved Orphan Medicines Since the Implementation of the Orphan Legislation
The number of orphan medicines available within EU increased significantly after the orphan legislation came into force.
Solutions for Building a Sustainable Society: Population Health and Wellbeing Report 2025
The report examines the state, development and future of Finnish wellbeing and health, as well as related questions in health and social services, social security and crisis resilience.
Research for Evidence-Informed Decision-Making: Research Strategy for Rational Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Services 2025-2029
The purpose of the research strategy for rational pharmacotherapy and pharmaceutical services is to promote the utilisation of research data in the implementation of rational pharmacotherapy.
New Cancer Medicines in Europe 2010-2020: Comparison of Medicines With or Without Extensions of Indications
The lifecycle of cancer medicines and especially the role and level of evidence extensions in comparison to first indications.
Uptake of Novel Outpatient Cancer Medicines Varies by Region
The introduction of new cancer medicines and the time to their uptake varies between individual cancer medicines.
Characteristics of High-Dose Benzodiazepine Use: Nationwide Cohort Study on New Benzodiazepine Users With 5-Year Follow-up
Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with high-dose use of BZDRs among new BZDR users.
Second-Line Pharmacotherapy Intensification After Metformin Monotherapy in Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Register Study From Finland During 2011-2022
In this nationwide register study, we examined the initiation of a second-line antidiabetic medicine (ADM) among new patients receiving regular metformin monotherapy in Finland during 2011-2022.
Sales of Tobacco and Nicotine Replacement Therapy Products, Especially Nicotine Pouches, Increased in Finland During the COVID-19 Pandemic
We investigated tobacco and nicotine product sales in Finland, including the sales of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use and Risk of Labour Market Marginalization in Finland - A Cohort Study With Five-Year Follow-up
Long-term use of benzodiazepines and related drugs (BZDRs) is associated with increased risk of dropping out from labour market.
Sleep Medicines Are Often Prescribed for Older Adults (≥75 years) Without Appropriate Dosing Instructions: A Nationwide Retrospective Register Study in Finland
It is common to prescribe sleep medicines for older adults without appropriate dosing instructions.
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