Technical market dialogue: out-of-hours emergency dental care

Summary

This is a market dialogue by the Kymenlaakso wellbeing services county to prepare a procurement for out-of-hours emergency dental care. The authority wants to identify potential providers and gather feedback on the planned service requirements and procurement model. Participants are asked to complete the market-dialogue questionnaire and comment on the draft service description. This is not a contract notice or a request for tenders; participation does not oblige a provider to submit a bid later, nor does it oblige the authority to procure the service in the proposed form. The planned service is dental care for patients requiring urgent treatment at Kymenlaakso Central Hospital in Kotka. Appointments would be available on weekdays from 16:00 to 21:00, and on weekends, public holidays, Midsummer Eve and Christmas Eve from 10:00 to 21:00. All referred patients must be treated, with work continuing after 21:00 if necessary. Patient records must be entered into the county's Lifecare patient information system, and care must follow clinical guidelines, applicable law and the contracting authority's instructions. The provider must supply suitably qualified staff. Dentists must hold a valid right to practise in Finland and have at least one year of experience as a licensed dentist in a Finnish health centre; staff must have a good command of Finnish. The authority will purchase services according to its needs and does not guarantee a specific volume. Publication of the planned invitation to tender is expected in November 2026. The planned contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, with two additional one-year options. Each option year would be agreed with the provider three months before it begins.