All local authorities have their own websites that give information and encourage residents to participate in community activities. Residents can monitor local decision-making on the internet by browsing through council agendas and minutes, participate in discussions on current matters or take initiatives on the web or via mobile phones.
The majority of local government expenditure consists of the cost of social welfare and health care services. It is therefore quite natural that these sectors have been looking for technological solutions that support both service providers and service users.
Finland has developed health care information systems at the national, regional and local levels. Client health care data are available in electronic form in all local authorities. Health care professionals have web-based databases and other instruments at their disposal to facilitate their work. The social welfare and healthcare units have also developed services to support client self-treatment.
Information and communication technologies are utilized efficiently in local government services relating to education, culture, sports and youth work. Local educational administrations are strongly involved in both national and international networks. Education is widely available in various forms such as remote, web-based and multiform instruction. Educational institutions and libraries are versatile service centres that make efficient use of the opportunities provided by information and communication technologies.
Service production will increasingly focus on customer services and, consequently, services on a joint services, services using videoconference and self-services. In Finland, information society policy as the central sector of politics brought technology, competence and innovations together as a coordinated package.
The high educational level of Finns, innovative, internationally recognized business life and purposeful development of the utilization of information technology in public administration ensure a strong foundation upon which to rapidly build a progressive information society for the future.