Kela

Easier access to health data with the OmaKanta App

Kela’s Kanta Services, in collaboration with Gofore, developed the OmaKanta mobile app, bringing a health service that affects nearly every Finn directly into users’ pockets. The app has received a highly positive response from users and excellent ratings in app stores. OmaKanta is easy and secure to use, allowing users to quickly view, for example, doctors’ notes and laboratory results. Prescription renewals can also be completed in just a few clicks.

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Objective

Making OmaKanta even smoother to use

Can a large-scale public sector digital service be delivered on mobile with high quality and a user-centric approach? Through effective and agile collaboration between Kela’s Kanta Services and Gofore, a high-quality service was made available to citizens within a tight schedule. OmaKanta is a nationally significant digital health and social care service, through which each of us can review doctors’ notes, renew prescriptions, and track test results. Previously, the service was only accessible via a web browser.

“In OmaKanta, information follows the individual regardless of whether they visit a health centre, occupational healthcare, or both. We wanted to make this widely used service easier, faster, and smoother to use,” says Nessa Mehrabipour-Hyttinen, Development Specialist at Kela.

The goal was to make OmaKanta more accessible to citizens, especially on mobile devices, which almost everyone has. At the same time, usability was improved by introducing new features such as biometric authentication and notifications for events like new laboratory results or renewed prescriptions.

The OmaKanta app is Kela’s first mobile application.

Solution

A multidisciplinary team built the mobile service from the ground up

The OmaKanta app was developed as a joint project between Kela’s Kanta Services and Gofore. Gofore’s mobile developers and UI/UX designers worked closely with Kela’s product development team.

“At the start of the project, key architectural decisions were made, and the integration of the mobile app with existing backend systems was defined. As Kela had not previously developed mobile applications, organisational practices for mobile development were also established, such as app store release processes,” explains Juha Linnanen, Mobile Development Lead Expert at Gofore.

React Native, a cross-platform technology, was chosen, enabling both iOS and Android applications to be developed from a single codebase. This accelerated development and allowed the entire team to work on one application.

The team combined two complementary areas of expertise: Kela’s deep understanding of national healthcare services and Gofore’s experience in mobile development.

Security played a central role in the project. The app uses features such as fingerprint and facial recognition, making login smooth without compromising security.

The first version was released as an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) within a tight schedule. Since then, the app has been continuously developed with new features and frequent releases.

“We had no prior experience in building mobile applications, so we expected strong expertise from our partner. Gofore’s team clearly exceeded our expectations. We gained experienced professionals to build the service with us.”

Nessa Mehrabipour-Hyttinen, Development Specialist, Kela

Outcome

A high-quality app for a service used by the entire nation

The OmaKanta app makes an essential digital health service in Finland more accessible in everyday life.

Push notifications in the mobile app inform users of, for example, newly available laboratory results without requiring them to check the service separately.

Quick login using fingerprint or facial recognition lowers the threshold for using the service, particularly in situations where repeated strong authentication in a browser could feel cumbersome.

The app has received very positive user feedback and excellent ratings: 4.6/5 on Google Play and 4.5/5 on the App Store.

The first version was released in August 2025, and the app has rapidly gained a significant user base. It currently has over 160,000 users, with numbers growing quickly. Nearly 280,000 notifications have been delivered through the app.

“We had no prior experience in building mobile applications, so we expected strong expertise from our partner. Gofore’s team clearly exceeded our expectations. We gained experienced professionals to build the service with us,” says Nessa Mehrabipour-Hyttinen.

Project highlights

Objective

Kela aimed to bring the OmaKanta service to mobile devices to make access to personal health data easier, faster, and smoother for citizens. Another goal was to improve user experience and enable new functionalities such as biometric authentication and push notifications.

Solution

Gofore’s mobile team developed the application using React Native in collaboration with Kela’s experts. The app was built using agile methods and first released as an MVP, after which it has been continuously enhanced.

Result

The OmaKanta app has received highly positive feedback from users and excellent ratings in app stores. It makes tracking health data easier and improves the overall user experience.