The regional governance reform is particularly ambitious, and tactful steering will be needed to realise the expected benefits in terms of reduction in inequalities and improved coordination and access. Many stakeholders have expressed doubts that the government can achieve its ambitious stated objectives of increasing access to care for the whole population, efficiency and cost control. However, important disparities in life expectancy by gender and socioeconomic status remain: in 2015, the life expectancy at birth of Finnish men with a tertiary education was more than six years higher than for those who had not completed their secondary education.