In Finland, the Social Insurance Institution (Kela) is something that touches everyone’s life at some point. It provides sickness allowance, pensions, child benefits, and various types of financial support throughout different life stages. I’m currently not receiving any benefits from Kela, but of course, that could change if I were to become ill, for example. In my life, I’ve received child benefits, student financial aid, unemployment support, and support for rehabilitation therapy. I’m very grateful for these, even though dealing with Kela isn’t always easy.
I’ve had a European Health Insurance Card for many years. I always take it with me when I travel. Getting the card is easy, and when it expires, a new one is automatically sent by mail.
OmaKanta is an online service where you can see your own health data. In OmaKanta, you can, for example, read medical notes, request prescription renewals, check your vaccination records, and upload an advance healthcare directive. You log in with a smart card, mobile certificate, or online banking credentials. OmaKanta is an excellent service. Everyone can access their medical records quickly and securely. Lab results are visible in the system, unlike X-ray images. Still, for example, elderly people may find OmaKanta challenging to use and often prefer paper discharge summaries.
My minimum retirement age is 66 years and 10 months. According to the pension calculator, I would receive around 2,300 euros per month. That age feels really high, and of course, I wonder how I’ll manage financially once I retire. Luckily, there’s still time to prepare for that.
I visited Chinese online stores Temu and Shein. Both have much lower prices than physical stores in Finland, which is understandable. However, product quality and ethical concerns are another matter. I doubt the products are responsibly made or safe, and I don’t believe that workers are treated fairly or paid appropriately. Both online shops produce fast fashion, which burdens the environment. Their products are not even intended to last. Flying the products here is far from ecological. I’ve never ordered from either of these stores, and I don’t think I ever will—though I know many who do.
One very useful social and healthcare service is Omaolo. It is a nationwide online health and well-being service designed to promote public health and support self-care. Omaolo helps people assess symptoms and guides them to the appropriate care if needed. The symptom checker provides either self-care instructions or directions on how and when to seek professional help. The guidance is based on evidence-based medical information. I have used Omaolo myself and also recommended it to others.
People who don’t use digital services can face many challenges. Most job applications are submitted online, and many workplaces require digital skills. Banking and public services are increasingly digital, making them difficult to access without digital literacy. Social interaction also often takes place online, and without those skills, a person can become socially isolated. Without internet access, people can easily miss out on real-time news and global events. Moreover, those with limited digital skills are more vulnerable to scams, which are increasingly common today.
I took the Digital Competence Test. My results were:
Information: 69%
Communication: 63%
Content Creation: 56%
Safety: 71%
The scores were surprisingly low, although the distribution was quite balanced.
Through these assignments, I’ve learned how important digital skills are today. We don’t always realize how much of our daily services are digital. In my work as a radiographer, digital applications are also widely used. It’s essential to maintain your competence and keep learning new things, as our society is constantly evolving digitally.
I commented the following blogs: