[The Finnish experience with the development of primary health care]

The author submits information on changes in the system of primary health care in Finland during the past decades. Since the adoption of the Act on primary health care in 1972 the communal system of primary health care developed rapidly. This was made possible by the creation of favourable organizational and financial conditions and tools. The basic structural change was the development of "health centres" which ensure a wide range of health services, incl. physical therapy, social counselling and in-patient care. The favourable development of the health status of the Finnish population during the last decade can be partly ascribed also to the functional development of primary health care. In this respect the example of Finland is certainly also an inspiration for the Czechoslovak health services.