Decisions made on discretionary government transfers to support regional preparation of health and social services reform

The decisions on discretionary government transfers for projects included in the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme and for projects supporting the restructuring of health and social services have been made.

What are the project objectives?

The aim of the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme is to improve equal access to services and the timing and continuity of services. The intention is to shift the focus of activities from heavy services to preventive and proactive work, improve the quality and effectiveness of services and ensure the multidisciplinary nature and interoperability of services. Efforts will also be made to curb the growth of expenditure. This will be achieved if other objectives are realised. 

The structural reform aims to develop and harmonise the organisation of health and social services in particular. The projects will focus on developing direction and guidance, analysing and designing the service network, defining service chains and service packages, developing the management of the service network and service chains and managing by information, harmonising ICT solutions and preparing other cost-curbing measures, for example. 

Discretionary government transfers granted

By the due date, a total of 23 applications for discretionary government transfers for projects under the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme and a total of 24 applications for discretionary government transfers for projects supporting the structural reform were submitted. A decision was made to grant discretionary government transfers to all regions.

A total of EUR 120 million was reserved for structural reform projects, and the total amount of grants applied for was EUR 156 million. A total of EUR 70 million was reserved for projects under the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme, and the total amount of grants applied for was slightly over EUR 70 million. 

Discretionary government transfers granted by region

Project coordination and guidance 

The steering group for reorganising health and social services appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health also serves as a steering group for the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme. The coordination group for the programme operates under the steering group. The division established for the regional preparation of the health and social services reform coordinates the preparation and progress of the structural reform.  The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for maintaining the overall picture of the structural reform projects and supervising the projects. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in turn supports the regions in the implementation and assessment of projects under the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme. It is possible to launch the projects straight away. The structural reform projects will run until the end of 2021 and the projects under the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme until the end of 2022. 

Legislative drafting

The legislative drafting concerning the reform proceeds in parallel with the regional preparation of the health and social services reform. The Government’s draft legislation on the reform of health, social and rescue services is being circulated for comments until 25 September 2020. The relevant government proposal is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament in December 2020.

Inquiries:
Kari Hakari, Director General, kari.hakari(at)stm.fi, +358 295 163 642
Kirsi Paasovaara, Senior Specialist (discretionary government transfers for the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme), kirsi.paasovaara(at)stm.fi , +358  295 163 012
Antti Kuopila, Senior Specialist (discretionary government transfers for the structural reform), antti.kuopila(at)stm.fi, +358 295 163 516

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