General practitioner

A general practitioner is the cornerstone of outpatient care, treating patients comprehensively regardless of age or condition. People see a GP for the most common illnesses, infectious diseases, and follow-up of long-term conditions.

A general practitioner makes primary care diagnoses, writes referrals to specialists when needed, and coordinates the patient’s care pathway. The work combines broad medical knowledge, strong communication skills, and building long-term care relationships.

In the Finnish healthcare system, a GP acts as a gatekeeper to specialised care. In the private sector, you can often get a GP appointment quickly without a referral, which is suitable for acute symptoms and non-urgent health checkups.