Preparatory tasks and joining

According to the Client Data Act, private social welfare and health care service providers must join the Kanta Services as users if they use an electronic client and patient data system.

If a registered healthcare provider processes customer data in a patient information system, the Patient Data Repository service must be enabled. There are no transitional periods for health care, so preparations for joining the service must begin without delay.

If a registered social care service provider processes client data in the client information system, then the Social Services Customer Data Archive must be deployed within the transition periods of the Client Data Act

The Act on Electronic Prescriptions makes the introduction of the Prescription service mandatory for pharmacies, social welfare and health care service providers who write prescriptions, and for those who prescribe medicines independently.

Read more:

• The Client Data Act and the Kanta Services

Users must pay a fee to use the Kanta Services. The amount of user fees is determined annually by decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

In addition, costs may arise from the information systems used. Contact your system provider for additional information about the fees associated with the use of information systems.

Read more:

• User fees and invoicing periods for Kanta Services
• Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on user fees for national health care information system services (finlex.fi)

Deployment of the Patient Data Repository in a nutshell

1. Contact your system provider. They will provide you with instructions on how to prepare for deployment.
2. Take care of the preparatory tasks required for deployment of the service.
3. Submit an application to join on Kanta-Extranet.
4. Finally, carry out a deployment test together with your system provider and submit the deployment test report to Kela.
5. You may now use the Kanta Services.

Read the instructions:

• Deployment of the Patient Data Repository

Client Data Repository for Social Welfare Services

1. Read more on the deployment process at kanta.fi and contact your information system provider.
2. Register your organisation for the deployment of the Client Data Repository for Social Welfare Services.
3. Take care of the preparatory tasks required for deployment of the service.
4. Submit an application to join on Kanta Extranet.
5. Finally, carry out a deployment test together with your system provider and submit the deployment test report to Kela.
6. You may now use the Kanta Services.

Read the instructions:

• Deployment of the Client Data Repository for Social Welfare Services

Deployment of the Prescription service in a nutshell

1. Contact your system provider. They will provide you with instructions on how to prepare for deployment.
2. Take care of the preparatory tasks required for deployment of the service.
3. Submit an application to join on Kanta Extranet.
4. Carry out the required deployment tasks in your organisation.
5. If you wish, you can work with your system provider to verify production readiness.
6. Start using the Prescription service.

Read the instructions:

• Deployment of the Prescription service

Company-based service providers must join Kanta. The parties may agree on the use of the joint venture model if they wish, in which case the service providers acting as tenants will join the Kanta Services through the main annex. Only the main service provider, i.e. the company, submits an application to join.

Alternatively, a self-employed service provider can join Kanta by using the direct connection model.

Read more:

• Ways to join

In order to be able to join the Kanta Services, up-to-date identification data on the operating units and their service units or the self-employed persons associated with the Kanta Services must be available in the national Code Service maintained by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) (register of health and social services organisations or IAH code set).

Code service information is based on registrations. If the information is not up-to-date in the Code Service, please contact the Regional State Administrative Agency in your area.

Read more:

• Organisational readiness for deployment

According to the Client Data Act, all health and social services providers that electronically archive client or patient data must comply with self-monitoring practices in their operations and draw up an information security plan. The information security plan referred to in the Client Data Act includes quality management and self-monitoring associated with information security and data protection. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) provides instructions on the content of the information security plan.

Read more:

• Information security plan

The service provider must make a data security plan for its own operations.

The sections of the information security plan must be reviewed and the requirements adapted to the size of the company and the scope of operations. Technical and information system requirements, in particular, should be discussed together with system providers.

If a self-employed service provider works as a tenant in a company, such as a medical centre, and uses the company’s patient data system, the preparation of an information security plan must be agreed with the company.

The company’s information security plan must clearly state if the plan also applies to tenants operating on its premises. Responsibilities must also be recorded in the agreement between the company and the self-employed person.

Read more:

• Information security plan
• You can find a contract template for an agreement between a self-employed person and an undertaking on the Connection models page - Professionals - Kanta.fi