Deputy-Ombudsman inspected the invoicing and collection of client fees in the wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland

On 14 November 2025, Deputy-Ombudsman Maija Sakslin carried out an inspection at the unit responsible for the invoicing and collection of healthcare and social welfare fees of the wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland (Varha). In particular, the inspection focused on the processes of invoicing and collecting healthcare and social welfare fees. With the inspection, the Deputy-Ombudsman emphasised the importance of up-to-date invoicing and collection as well as clients’ needs to access information. 

Deputy-Ombudsman Sakslin: “I welcome the fact that, in a matter that has also been widely discussed in public, Varha has responsibly apologised for the delay in sending payment reminders and interrupted the sending of new reminders. Guidance concerning the matter has also been added to Varha's website. I will use the information I received during the inspection to assess whether the measures taken by Varha to detect and correct any errors have been sufficient for their clients’ rights to be realised.”

Several complaints concerning the recovery of unpaid invoices by Varha have been filed with the Parliamentary Ombudsman, and they are still pending. Deputy-Ombudsman Sakslin: “Unfortunately, however, the Ombudsman cannot interrupt recovery or declare the invoices unfounded. Therefore, the client must primarily contact Varha if there are errors or ambiguities in the justifications for invoices or to find out about the possibility to have the fee reduced or removed.” 

The Deputy-Ombudsman also visited the Office of the General Director of National Enforcement Authority Finland, which is responsible for the central administration of the Authority.

The inspection records will be published later in the winter on the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s website www.oikeusasiamies.fi.