Connecting the information system to the query and forwarding service

Connecting the information system to the query and forwarding service

The system must meet the requirements and be compatible with the Kanta Services. We advise reserving a sufficient amount of time for development work.

In order for an organisation outside the healthcare sector to be able to deploy the query and forwarding service and start using certificates in Kanta, the organisation’s information system must meet national requirements. The information system provider is often still developing the system while the client organisation progresses with the actual deployment.

Preparing the system

Develop the system to support the specifications of the query and forwarding service.

When developing your system, please refer to the specifications of the query and forwarding service and the guidelines of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL):

Functional specifications of the query and forwarding service (in Finnish)Instructions on the conditions for joining the service for organisations outside the healthcare sector (pdf, thl.fi, in Finnish)THL Regulation on documents to be forwarded to parties outside the healthcare sector (pdf, thl.fi, in Finnish)

If you need Kela’s support with development, please contact kanta@kanta.fi. 

In addition to your own testing, test the system independently in the Kanta Services client test environment.

Join the Kanta Services client test service, which is provided in the Kanta client test environment. The application to join as a user of the service is usually submitted by the information system provider. If necessary, the client organisation can also join the client test service.

For more information on the client test environment, please email kanta@kanta.fi and consult the client test service’s instructions for joining the service. 

Instructions for joining the Kanta client test service (pdf, in Finnish)Application to join the Patient Data Repository’s client test service (xls, in Finnish)

On the system form, you can describe how the system meets the requirements of the Kanta Services. Go through the form with Kela and THL.

Fill in the system form describing how your system meets technical and data security requirements, for example. Please read THL’s regulation and the certificate profiles first, as these will help you to fill in the system form. 

THL Regulation 5/2024 on the essential requirements for social welfare and healthcare information systems (pdf, thl.fi, in Finnish)Certificate profiles can be found on the Regulations page (thl.fi)Appendix 4: System form v.30 (xls, thl.fi, in Finnish)

For more information about the description of the system and its data security requirements, please email sotetiedonhallinta@thl.fi. 

Collaboration meeting

Once you have completed the system form, please send the form by email to kanta@kanta.fi. At the same time, schedule a date for a collaboration meeting with representatives of Kela and THL. 

At the meeting, you will go through the content of the system form and agree, among other things, on performing a joint test. 

Register for Kanta Services joint testing and read the instructions.

Joint testing is carried out in the Kanta client test environment. Kela will assign test cases to be completed in the joint testing to the system provider. 

Register for joint testing by sending an email to yhteistestaus@kanta.fi. At the same time, schedule joint testing with Kela.

Read more:  

Joint testing processParties and responsibilities in joint testing

Obtain a legal certificate for the data security of your system. You can obtain such a certificate from an external information security inspection body.

It must be ensured that client and patient data are processed appropriately and securely in the information system. This requires that data security has been assessed by an external information security inspection body.

For more information on data security requirements, please contact THL by email at sotetiedonhallinta@thl.fi.

The meeting ensures that the system meets the requirements.

Contact kanta@kanta.fi to schedule a system approval meeting. At the meeting, you will go through the documentation on the preparation of the system with representatives from Kela and THL. 

For the documentation to be examined, you will need:

  • a statement and report on the joint testing issued by Kela
  • a data security certificate issued by an external information security inspection body.

Once the system has been approved, your client organisation will be able to use it to join the query and forwarding service.

Your role during deployment

As a system provider, you will also be involved in the deployment phase tasks with the client organisation.

If necessary, you will participate in the approval meeting of the conditions for joining, together with representatives of the client organisation, Kela and THL. 

You will also participate in the deployment test to ensure system functionality.