Occupational health doctor in Finland: tasks and statements
Editorial update 11.11.2026
Editorial: StartHealth (general employer guide, medical review pending)
An occupational health doctor is a doctor working in occupational health care who assesses the link between work and health, carries out health examinations and supports employees' work ability together with the employer. A doctor who works in occupational health care full-time must be a specialist in occupational health care. For the employer, the doctor's work shows as statements and proposals for action: from a health examination the employer receives a general assessment of whether the employee can do their tasks, not a diagnosis.
On this page
What does an occupational health doctor do?
Section 12 of the Occupational Health Care Act lists the tasks that belong to the preventive occupational health care an employer arranges. The section does not divide the tasks by job title: the occupational health doctor carries them out together with the occupational health nurse and other professionals. The table shows what the tasks mean in an employer's everyday work.
| Task | What it means for the employer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace survey | The healthiness and safety of the work and working conditions are investigated and assessed. Set aside time for a workplace visit and gather information on the work and conditions. | Occupational Health Care Act, section 12 |
| Health examinations | Employees' health, work ability and functional capacity are investigated and followed on the basis of the work. The certificate states a general assessment, not a diagnosis. | Occupational Health Care Act, sections 12 and 13 |
| Proposals for action | Occupational health care proposes ways to improve the healthiness and safety of the work or to adapt the work to the employee's capabilities. It follows up on how the proposals are carried out. | Occupational Health Care Act, section 12 |
| Advice and guidance | The employer and employees receive information and guidance on the healthiness and safety of the work and on employees' health. | Occupational Health Care Act, section 12 |
| Work ability support | Coping at work is followed and promoted, and the employee is referred to treatment or rehabilitation when needed. In a prolonged absence a statement on work ability and continuing at work is drawn up. | Occupational Health Care Act, sections 10 a and 12 |
A doctor's appointments for illness are part of the service only to the extent that medical care has been agreed in the occupational health care contract. The starting points of preventive work are described in the guides to the workplace survey and occupational health examinations.
Qualification
The qualifications of occupational health care professionals are laid down in Government Decree 708/2013. Its section 12 separates full-time and part-time doctors:
- Full-time occupational health doctor: a licensed doctor working in occupational health care full-time must be a specialist in occupational health care. Full-time means working in occupational health care tasks for 20 hours a week or more on average.
- Part-time occupational health doctor: must have at least 15 credits of training in occupational health care within two years of moving into occupational health care tasks.
- Doctor in specialist training: these requirements do not apply; specialist training is regulated separately.
In practice, ask your provider who acts as your company's responsible doctor and how to reach them. StartHealth's operating model is physician-led, and the responsible doctor is named in the contract.
Statements and certificates: what does the employer learn?
An occupational health doctor's statements tell the employer about work ability and conclusions related to the work. The longer an absence continues, the more statements and deadlines come up.
| Situation | Statement or certificate | What the employer learns or does |
|---|---|---|
| Health examination because of the health requirements of the work | Certificate of the health examination | A general assessment of whether the employee's health allows them to do their tasks (Occupational Health Care Act, section 13) |
| Sickness absence | Medical certificate A | According to Kela, sickness allowance can usually be granted on the basis of certificate A for up to 60 working days |
| The absence has lasted one month | No separate statement | The employer notifies occupational health care of the sickness absence at this point at the latest (Occupational Health Care Act, section 10 a) |
| Certificate A is no longer enough | Medical statement B or BC | After certificate A, Kela's sickness allowance requires statement B or BC |
| Sickness allowance has been paid for 90 working days | The occupational health doctor's statement on remaining work ability and continuing at work | The employer looks into the possibilities for continuing at work together with the employee and occupational health care |
The certificate of a health examination gives a conclusion, not a diagnosis. The employee does not need to tell their manager a diagnosis, and what is discussed with the employer is the work and work arrangements.
Under chapter 2, section 11 of the Employment Contracts Act, an employee must on request give the employer a reliable account of their incapacity for work. A medical certificate is one way to give that account. A certificate always rests on the doctor's professional assessment, so an appointment does not guarantee a certificate or a certain length of absence.
Handling certificates is covered in the guide to the sick leave certificate and pay in the guide to sick pay. When an absence is prolonged, the return to work is often agreed in a work ability meeting.
Doctor or nurse: whom to contact?
A doctor is needed for a medical certificate, for a certificate or statement required for Kela's sickness allowance, and for a statement on work ability. In the practical matters of the workplace survey, health examinations and advice, the employer's contact can also be the occupational health nurse. Certificates for short absences and the nurse's role are covered in the guide to the occupational health nurse.
The practical division of work is agreed with the provider. Agree at least on these:
- Who the company's responsible doctor is and how the employer reaches occupational health.
- Which of the doctor's services are preventive occupational health care and which are medical care included in the contract.
- How an employee books an appointment and when a matter is handled remotely or at an in-person appointment.
- How contact for work ability support and the notification of a prolonged absence are handled.
A remote appointment with a doctor is also possible when the provider offers it. StartHealth's Basic package includes remote appointments with a doctor by video, chat or phone; a health care professional decides whether a remote assessment is suitable, and not everything can be handled remotely. Kela also reimburses occupational health services given remotely, under the conditions of reimbursement. Arrangements for a distributed team are covered in the guide to remote occupational health care, and the content of the packages is on the services page.
Frequently asked questions
What does an occupational health doctor do?
An occupational health doctor assesses the link between work and health, takes part in the workplace survey, carries out health examinations, proposes actions to improve the healthiness and safety of the work, and advises and supports work ability. The tasks are based on section 12 of the Occupational Health Care Act and are carried out together with the occupational health nurse and other professionals.
What qualification must an occupational health doctor have in Finland?
A doctor who works in occupational health care full-time, meaning at least 20 hours a week on average, must be a specialist in occupational health care. A doctor working part-time must have at least 15 credits of training in occupational health care within two years of moving into the tasks. The requirements do not apply to a doctor in specialist training, and they are laid down in Government Decree 708/2013.
Does the employer learn the diagnosis?
Not from a health examination. The certificate issued on it states a general assessment of whether the employee's health allows them to do their tasks, not a diagnosis. The employee does not need to tell their manager a diagnosis, and what is discussed with the employer is the work and work arrangements.
What is the 90-day statement?
It is the occupational health doctor's statement on the employee's remaining work ability and possibilities for continuing at work. According to Kela, the statement is submitted to Kela at the latest when sickness allowance has been paid for 90 working days. The employer looks into the possibilities for continuing at work together with the employee and occupational health care.
Can you see an occupational health doctor remotely?
Yes, if the provider offers remote appointments and a health care professional assesses that the matter is suitable to handle remotely. Kela also reimburses occupational health services given remotely, such as by video, under the conditions of reimbursement. Not everything can be handled remotely.
Sources
Sources
Sources checked 11 November 2026. This is an editorial guide; clinical review is pending, and the text is not legal advice for an individual company.
- Government Decree 708/2013 on the principles of good occupational health care practice, the content of occupational health care and the training of professionals and experts (Finnish)
- Occupational Health Care Act 1383/2001 (Finnish)
- Employment Contracts Act 55/2001 (Finnish)
- Kela: sickness allowance for employers, updated 1 October 2026 (Finnish)
- Kela: sickness allowance, checkpoints and the occupational health doctor's statement, updated 1 October 2026 (Finnish)
- Kela: reimbursable occupational health care, updated 30 October 2026 (Finnish)