The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare maintains a national infectious diseases register based on the Communicable Diseases Act and Decree. Data are collected to the register using communicable disease notifications filed by doctors and laboratories. 

The register data are used in 

• the prevention of infectious diseases
• the work to combat infectious diseases 
• research.

The public statistical database of the National Infectious Diseases Register provides access to statistical data by hospital district, age group and gender, on an annual and monthly basis. In addition to the number of cases, the register provides information about incidence, or the number of cases relative to 100,000 residents.

Data in the register may also be disclosed for research purposes in return for a research permit. 

Approximately 100,000 cases of infectious diseases are reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register each year. Data have been collected since 1995.