THL is now a strong actor in the field of research and development in the health and social sectors in Finland. Health Technology Assessment (FINOHTA), the Centre for Health Economics (CHESS) and outcome and equity research are internationally merited and known units inside THL.

Dr. Simo Kokko, MD, PhD. has a background as a rural GP and as a senior teacher and researcher in both Public Health and General Practice, and is an adjunct professor of General Practice in the University of Kuopio. Since 1991, he has worked in THL as a senior expert in the field of Primary Care. The focus of his work has been much in the reforms and structural changes of Finnish Primary care and its interfaces with specialist level services and also social services. In 1998-2000 Simo Kokko worked for the World Bank as a health expert in several countries of the ECA region. In 2003-2004 he worked for the Regional Office of WHO in preparation of a ministerial conference. Simo Kokko’s research interests have focused on the use and structures of PC services. Simo Kokko is active in professional and scientific societies and colleges in both public health and general practice. In his daily work Simo is a senior expert supporting and assisting national development programmes and monitoring the development and structural changes in Finland’s health services.

Dr. Ilmo Keskimäki MD, DMedSc (PhD), since 1992 worked in various research positions at the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in Helsinki, Finland. He is currently director of the Division of Health Services Research of the institute. He also works as a professor of health services research at the Tampere School of Public Health and is affiliated to the Department of Public Health in the University of Helsinki as an adjunct professor. Formerly, he has worked in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the National Public Health Institute, and the Universities of Helsinki and Oulu. His main research activities have been in health services research. In particular, practice variations and social disparities in health services with a special interest in inequities in access to care. His current research work addresses factors influencing equity in access to health care and in outcomes of health services. He is the Finnish partner in the International Network for Health Policy and Reform. Keskimäki's recent research publications have addressed changes in socioeconomic equity in access to hospital care in Finland and social disparities in health outcomes among chronically ill people.

Role in EUprimecare: THL will be involved in all Work Packages conceptually and collecting data for Finland. They will lead the definition and validation of PC models in Work Package 2 and the population pitol ssurvey in Work Package 5. They will also lead the Dissemination Work Package.