Growing demand, tighter resources
Finland's wellbeing services counties face rising demand for care while resources tighten. Used wisely, AI can free professionals' time for the human contact and care that only they can give, and deliver cost-efficient, personalised services such as nutrition guidance.
AI has already been piloted in more than 300 projects across Finland's wellbeing services counties. The next step is moving from experiments to broad, everyday use. To speed that up, Sitra opened a funding call in January–February 2026. It received 15 applications and funded three projects with a total of €1,156,041. One of them is the HUS project for AI-assisted obesity treatment.
“Wellbeing services counties face growing demand and tightening resources at the same time. Used strategically, AI helps direct professionals' time to where people need it most. The funded projects already show strong adoption in the field and real benefits. The next step is to scale proven solutions broadly.”
What the pilot showed
HUS piloted AI support in its Health Weight Loss Coaching program. The results were clear enough to scale:
- Professionals were able to treat significantly more patients
- Professionals' workload eased
- Patients responded positively to the new way of working
HUS's weight management program has used Metabite's technology for more than three years. Read the HUS case study
What happens next
With Sitra's funding, HUS will extend the AI tools across the full year-long treatment pathway and build the model into the national service system so that it is available to everyone in Finland. The focus now shifts from technical development to operational change: training, communications and a thorough assessment of impact.
Metabite's role
The project is led by HUS, in a consortium with Metabite and the University of Helsinki. Metabite provides the AI coaching platform that lets each professional support more patients.
Part of a bigger shift
The call is part of Sitra's Digisote project, which aims to speed up the renewal of social and health services through digitalisation, health data and AI. It also supports Sitra's wider goal of raising public-sector productivity with data and AI.
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