Organisational changes in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
From now on, there will be four departments at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, instead of the earlier five departments.
- Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare (OHO)
- Department for Wellbeing and Services (HPO)
- Department for Insurance and Social Security (SVO)
- Department for Work and Gender Equality (TTO)
The Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare is an entirely new department. The Department for Wellbeing and Services will have most of the duties of the current Department for Social and Health Services and the Department for Promotion of Welfare and Health. The Preparedness Unit and Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations (STEA) will also be part of the Department for Wellbeing and Services from now on.
The Department for Work and Gender Equality will handle occupational safety and health matters, and the Gender Equality Unit has been transferred to this department. The current Administration and Planning Department is discontinued and its duties transferred to other departments or units.
In addition to the departments there are three units directly under the Permanent Secretary. These units will support the activities of the departments and create good preconditions for the work of the personnel in duties which the Ministry is responsible for.
- Management Support Unit (JOT)
- Administration Unit (HAL)
- Information and Communications Unit (VIE)
The Management Support unit comprises the Strategy Group, Evaluation Group, Information Management Group and International Affairs Group. The Administration Unit comprises the Administrative Services Group and Finance Group.
The new organisation of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will give better support to both the Ministry Group’s strategy work and the implementation of large-scale structural reforms.
"In future the world will be in many ways different from the world of today. Future prospects require that we are able to gather competence in a new and more flexible way into projects which deal with topical themes. Work-life changes will challenge the foundations of our social security. Those changes will also extend the traditional concept of occupational safety and health to include even the maintenance of mental working capacity", says Permanent Secretary Päivi Sillanaukee.
"The big societal changes relating to both services and working life require that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will take a stronger role in public financial planning and in steering of services. The Government must be able to carry out closer cooperation across the administrative branches and with stakeholders outside the central government. When the Ministry now is organised into four departments and into services teams supporting the duties of the departments, and when we transfer many of our activities into projects that are clearer to manage and start working as networks, we will be able to better respond to the challenges of the future society."
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health website offers more information on the new departments, units directly under the Permanent Secretary and groups within the departments. The website also gives information on the heads of the departments and groups.
Note: Information concerning the departments, units and groups will be updated later. Language versions, too, will be published later on this website.