Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö

What Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö does

Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö (YTHS, the Finnish Student Health Service) is a foundation established by charter on 13 February 1954 and headquartered at Töölönkatu 37 A, Helsinki, that operates as the statutory sole provider of primary healthcare — general health, mental health, and oral health — for higher education students in Finland under the Act on Student Health Care for Higher Education Students (signed 17 May 2019, in force 1 January 2021). The organisation is governed by a 24–30-person Delegation, a 6–12-person Board (chaired by Tuomo Yli-Huttula) and Managing Director Annika Saarikko, with Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) acting as the organising authority. YTHS serves more than 300,000 university and polytechnic students via a network of approximately 32 own service units plus contracted partners (Pihlajalinna, Mehiläinen, SYNLAB, Oral Hammaslääkärit, Coronaria and several regional dental partners), supplemented by nationwide phone lines for general/mental and oral health.

The core digital asset is YTHSDigi, launched 6 May 2026, which replaces the legacy "Self" web service and provides chat-based care-need assessment, video consultations (used for approximately 50% of general and mental health appointments), prescription renewals, and integrated Suomi.fi-based identity authentication (hosted at yths.suomisote.fi). Around 50% of all student contacts are now digital via chat, indicating that the channel migration is largely complete for low-acuity triage. Off-platform, YTHS delivers health examinations via the TerveysStartti programme for first-year students, a stepped-care mental health model, laboratory services routed through SYNLAB, imaging and oral health services via partner dental networks, plus group activities, online courses and "study community work" (opiskeluyhteisötyö). Recruitment runs on Teamtailor, and clinical leadership rests with Chief Physician Teija Kulmala and Chief Dentist Krista Brander-Aalto.

YTHS's economic model is funding-based rather than revenue-based: approximately €95 million of annual budget is split 77% from Finnish state funding and 23% from a student healthcare fee collected as part of higher education enrollment, with services free at the point of use. Because the foundation operates under a fixed funding envelope with no ability to raise prices or expand the payer base, its budget effectively equals its revenue. The foundation has no owners, members or shareholders and is undergoing a documented financial rebalancing — change negotiations initiated in May 2026 covering essentially the entire ~1,150-person workforce have already concluded with 58 employment-contract terminations and up to roughly 10 further redundancies or part-time conversions planned.

Name

Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö

Legal name

Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö

Website

https://yths.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö (YTHS) is a Finnish foundation established in 1954 and the statutory sole provider of primary healthcare (general, mental, and oral health) for over 300,000 higher education students across Finland, funded 77% by government and 23% via a student fee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (6211), Offices of Physicians (62111), Offices of Dentists (62121), Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists (621112)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care & General Medical Services (EDALAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

24/7 On-Demand Urgent Care Virtual Visit Platforms (HLALAJAA), 24/7 Nurse Line, Symptom Checker & Triage (Payer-Sponsored) (HLALACAB), Patient Portals & Self-Service Access (HLACAEAA), Prosthodontic & Restorative Group Practices (HLABAKAH), Behavioral Health & Psychiatry Virtual Care (Payer Network) (HLALACAC)

Keywords

• Student healthcare services
• Primary healthcare provider
• Mental health services
• Oral health services
• Digital health platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices32 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Student Healthcare Fee (23%): Students pay a healthcare fee as part of their higher education enrollment, which constitutes 23% of YTHS funding
2. Government Funding (77%): State funding from the Finnish government constitutes 77% of YTHS's total funding. Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland) is responsible for organizing the services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

YTHS delivers statutory primary healthcare services — including general health, mental health (stepped care model), and oral health — to all higher education students in Finland through 32 own service units and contracted partners. Services are accessed via the YTHSDigi digital platform, a nationwide phone line, and in-person appointments. The organization conducts preventive health examinations (TerveysStartti), laboratory and imaging services, sexual health services, vaccinations, and student community work, serving over 300,000 students annually.

Product overview

Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö (YTHS) is a foundation providing statutory student health services for higher education students in Finland. The core offering centers on YTHSDigi, a digital service platform launched in May 2026 that replaced the Self web service, providing students online access to appointments, video consultations, and chat services. Physical service delivery is provided through approximately 35 service units across Finland. Services are organized into three main categories: general and mental health services, oral health services, and preventive care programs including health examinations (TerveysStartti), laboratory and imaging services, group activities, and student community work. The mental health services follow a stepped care model. The organization serves over 300,000 higher education students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YTHSDigi Digital Service Platform Digital service platform for higher education students enabling chat consultation, video appointments, appointment booking, prescription renewals, and care need assessment; replaced the Self web service in May 2026.
• Student Healthcare Services (Opiskeluterveydenhuollon palvelut) Comprehensive statutory primary healthcare services for university and polytechnic students in Finland, covering general health, mental health, and oral health.
• Appointment Services (Vastaanottopalvelut) Clinical appointment services for general health, mental health, and oral health consultations, delivered via YTHSDigi, nationwide phone service, or in-person visits.
• Mental Health Stepped Care Model (Mielenterveyden porrasteinen hoitomalli) Stepped care model providing tiered mental health support for Finnish higher education students, matched to symptom severity (mild to moderate symptoms primarily).
• TerveysStartti (Health Examination Program) Health examination program for first-year students, starting with a health questionnaire to assess individual preventive care needs.
• Laboratory Examinations (Laboratoriotutkimukset) Laboratory testing services for students, referred by YTHS physicians and delivered through partner SYNLAB Suomi Oy.
• Imaging Examinations (Kuvantamistutkimukset) Medical imaging services including X-rays and ultrasound for students, with referrals issued by YTHS.
• Group Activities and Online Courses (Ryhmätoiminta ja verkkokurssit) Group activities and online courses supporting student wellbeing in mental health, nutrition, physiotherapy, and oral health.
• Student Community Work (Opiskeluyhteisötyö) Services promoting study community health including event coordination, study ability support, environment inspections, and student health meetings.
• Oral Health Services (Suunterveyden palvelut) Dental and oral health services including examinations, preventive care, and treatment, delivered through YTHS service units and contracted partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300,000 higher education students served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PihlajalinnacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership network for healthcare services including general and mental health (Pihlajalinna Iisalmi, Kotka, Raahe, Savonlinna, Varkaus) and imaging services (Pihlajalinna Tampere). YTHS connects students to Pihlajalinna services through its care coordination.
• MehiläinencoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for healthcare services at multiple locations including Forssa, Kuusamo, Ylivieska, and Tammisaari. Provides general and specialized healthcare services to students in these regions.
• SYNLAB Suomi OycoreTechnology or IntegrationLaboratory services provider for YTHS students nationwide. Students receive referrals from YTHS and book appointments directly with SYNLAB for laboratory tests.
• Oral HammaslääkäritcoreTechnology or IntegrationOral health services partner at multiple locations including Varkaus, Savonlinna, and Mikkeli. Provides dental services to students at partner locations.
• Coronaria HammasklinikkacoreTechnology or IntegrationDental health services partner at Kemi, Kotka, Kuusamo, and Tammisaari locations. Provides oral health services to students.
• Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland)coreOthersKela is responsible for organizing the provision of student healthcare services. YTHS operates as the service provider under this arrangement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pihlajalinna: Finnish listed healthcare group providing primary care, specialist care, and occupational health across Finland; YTHS contracted partner at multiple locations. Comparable in ambulatory care delivery model and Finnish footprint.
• Coronaria: Finnish healthcare company providing dental, primary, and mental health services; an oral health delivery partner for YTHS in Kemi, Kotka, Kuusamo and Tammisaari. Directly comparable in service scope.
• Mehiläinen: One of Finland's largest private healthcare service providers and a core YTHS delivery partner. Comparable in ambulatory care delivery, digital booking, and multi-specialty primary care services.
• SYNLAB Suomi: Finland's largest laboratory services provider and YTHS's nationwide lab partner. Directly comparable in diagnostic service delivery for ambulatory care.
• Oral Hammaslääkärit: Finnish dental group operating multiple clinics; oral health delivery partner for YTHS in multiple regions. Directly comparable as a dental services provider in the Finnish market.
• Studentkåren vid Åbo Akademi / SHVS (Swedish Student Health Service): Statutory student healthcare provider in Finland operating under the same 2019 Act as YTHS; shares regulatory framework, funding model (77% government), and student population, making it the closest direct peer.

Others

• Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland): Government agency that organizes and funds YTHS services under the student health law; oversight/contractual counterpart rather than a competitor, but serves the same student health ecosystem.
• Folkhälsan: Finnish health and welfare foundation providing ambulatory and preventive health services in Finland; comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit healthcare provider in the same operating environment.

Broad incumbents

• Terveystalo: Largest private healthcare company in Finland offering primary care, specialist care, and occupational health nationwide; comparable in service portfolio and digital delivery but broader commercial scope than YTHS.

Regional players

• Student Health Services (UK University GP/NHS): UK-based university-linked primary care providers delivering similar student health services under NHS funding; comparable in student-focused primary care delivery model though different funding structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/yths_fin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö