Topics for targeted research funding 2025 

1. Social rehabilitation as part of the rehabilitation service system

Social rehabilitation is a social service under the Social Welfare Act, and it means enhanced support to strengthen social functioning, combat exclusion, and promote inclusion. However, social rehabilitation is organised by many parties as part of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation service system, making the integration and coordination of services the key issues. The definition of social rehabilitation is not unambiguous, and the scope of services seems to be relatively unstructured. 

Kela is commissioning a study to establish an overview of social rehabilitation, i.e., its definition and content as well as rehabilitation cooperation and the coordination of services from multiple perspectives; those of wellbeing services counties, municipalities, and organisations. 

The study will provide information for the following questions:

• What is the definition and content of social rehabilitation? 
• What kinds of social rehabilitation services are offered (target group, referrals)? 
• How social rehabilitation functions as part of the rest of the service system? How does cooperation (client referrals, collaborating with partners) occur in relation to other services, for example Kela’s services, and especially in relation to Kela’s vocational rehabilitation?

This multifaceted study can be a multimethod study. The commissioned study is part of a larger project investigating questions related to social rehabilitation. Budget estimate is up to EUR 150,000. 

2. The effects of a guarantee pension on health

Guarantee pensions have been paid as a minimum pension since 2011. The level of the guarantee pension was increased by EUR 50 in 2020 and with index increases in recent years. The guarantee pension is paid both as an old-age pension and a disability pension. The income of guarantee pension recipients consists of several income security benefits. Health insurance and healthcare services maintain health and functional capacity. Guarantee pension recipients are people with long-term low income, so more research information about their health is needed to develop the system. 

Kela is commissioning a study to investigate the health of guarantee pension recipients using register data. The connection between income and health is a complex research theme that can be examined in different ways. The entry into force and changes in the level of the guarantee pension provide an opportunity to study the effect of the level of the benefit on recipients’ health status using quasi-experimental methods.

The study should address the following questions: 

• Does the guarantee pension and its level have an effect on the health of pension recipients?
• Are the effects of the guarantee pension on health different for the recipients of disability pension and old-age pension?

Budget estimate is up to EUR 200,000. 

3. Oral healthcare systems and implementation in the Nordic countries

Oral healthcare is part of the Finnish healthcare system. In some respects, its implementation differs from other areas of healthcare, and there are also differences in implementation and organisation between different countries. In the Nordic countries, oral healthcare systems share many common features, but there are also differences between the countries. Differences in implementation and organisation may result in differences in the use and provision of services. However, there has been little comparison of oral healthcare and associated systems. 

Although the cost pressure of oral healthcare has been transferred to wellbeing services counties in recent years, the private sector still plays a very significant role in service provision. In 2023, Kela paid EUR 44 million in reimbursements to private dental care clients. 

Kela is commissioning a study to investigate the implementation and organisation of oral healthcare in different Nordic countries. The information obtained from the study can be used in the development of services and health insurance. 

The study should address at least the following questions: 

• How is oral healthcare implemented and organised across the Nordic countries
• What are the differences and similarities in oral healthcare implementation and systems between the Nordic countries
• How different methods of implementing and organising oral healthcare guide the use of the services.

Budget estimate is up to EUR 100,000.

4. The views and experiences of citizens and operators in the pharmaceutical sector regarding the medicine reimbursement system 

Reimbursements for medicine expenses comprise a significant part of the benefits paid by Kela, both in terms of money and the number of recipients.  Reimbursements for medicines make up more than a third of all health insurance reimbursements paid by Kela, and in 2023, reimbursements for medicine expenses were paid to more than three million Finnish citizens.  Reimbursements for medicine expenses are often paid automatically at the pharmacy as direct reimbursements when the medicine is dispensed. Therefore, it is possible that it is not always fully understood how the medicine reimbursement system functions. 

Kela is commissioning a study that utilises suitable methods to investigate citizens’ and industry operators’ perceptions of the objectives and functions of the medicine reimbursement system and how the system is perceived to work. The aim of the study is to improve customer insight and the customer experience of the medicine reimbursement system.

The study should address at least the following questions: 

• Citizens’ and industry operators’ experiences of the objectives and functions of the medicine reimbursement system
• Citizens’ and industry operators’ experiences of how the current medicine reimbursement system functions, its positive aspects, and potential development needs
• What are the citizens’ and operators’ hopes for the reimbursement the system in the future
• How the medicine reimbursement system could better guide rational pharmacotherapy.

Budget estimate is up to EUR 150,000.

5. Views, expectations, and experiences of clients and different operators regarding taxi rides reimbursed under health insurance 

As required by the Health Insurance Act, Kela pays reimbursement for travel costs related to illness, pregnancy, childbirth, or rehabilitation. In 2023, the reimbursements amounted to approximately EUR 308 million, just over half of which was accumulated by taxi rides. Kela is the largest public funder of taxi services in Finland. In 2023, there were more than 3 million of these so-called Kela taxi rides.

The fares and number of taxis were deregulated in a taxi legislation reform in 2018. Since the reform, taxi services have provoked conversation and even caused dissatisfaction. Although a majority of the rides are completed as planned, Kela taxi rides have been under discussion due to issues such as availability of services, ride-sharing, delays, or cancellations. 

Kela is commissioning a study that examines the perceptions of Kela taxi clients and operators in the taxi and healthcare sectors regarding the realisation and development needs of Kela taxi rides. The information can also be used in the development of services and health insurance.

The study should investigate at least the following questions from the perspectives of clients and operators in the taxi and healthcare sectors: 

• Experiences of the performance of the current Kela taxi system, its pros and cons, and development needs
• Views on how client needs could provide better guidance for organising Kela taxi rides in the future 
• Expectations of future Kela taxi rides regarding, for example, ride-sharing and regional division.

Budget estimate is up to EUR 150,000.