Expect Finnish municipalities to massively increase outsourcing of elderly and primary care to the private sector over the next five years.  HealthcareEuropa estimates that the market should double to €1.7bn by 2013.

The largest market is care homes. Three factors should revolutionise the market:

Firstly, larger operators have emerged, who, working in partnership with insurance companies, are building brand new facilities.

Secondly, some municipalities have started outsourcing the management of the care homes that they own to private operators.

Thirdly, the national lottery, which previously pumped money into foundations to build not-for-profit care homes, has withdrawn financing for the building of new units.

These changes have created the ideal conditions for the creation of large, fast-growth profitable businesses. A number of competitors have emerged - Medivire, Esperi Care, MedOne and Coronaria - who, together, should have aggregate sales of around €110m in 2008, or just over 20% of the total market.

But other markets, notably primary and domiciliary, are also emerging.

Our Analysis: Finland is following in the footsteps of Sweden, where the next 18 months should see nearly €1 billion of contracts going to the private sector, as the primary and domiciliary markets are revolutionised.