This discretionary government grant is awarded to finance development tasks at the Finnish Centre for Client and Patient Safety in the wellbeing services county of Ostrobothnia.

For this purpose, the 2026 Budget includes a proposed appropriation of EUR 1,100,000 under item 33.60.36 (Discretionary government grant to safeguard health and social services (fixed appropriation)). One of the aims of carrying out such development tasks is to ensure that client and patient safety will be improved. Under the Government Decree on the Division of Duties and the Centralisation of Certain Tasks in Specialised Healthcare (582/2017, later referred to as the Decree on the Centralisation of Specialised Healthcare), Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county has been assigned national coordination tasks for planning and developing client and patient safety. The government grant can be awarded as described in this call for applications if Parliament confirms the appropriation in the Budget.

Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county’s non-earmarked funding covers its duties specified in the Decree on the Centralisation of Specialised Healthcare. However, improving client and patient safety also requires coordinating the implementation of the national Client and Patient Safety Strategy and Action Plan across the health and social services units, and supporting the service organisers and providers that implement the strategy.

The government grant is intended to fund this additional and temporary task, which is separate from the duty assigned to Ostrobothnia under the Decree on the Centralisation of Specialised Healthcare. The government grant cannot be used to finance Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county's statutory duties.

The government grant must be used between 1 January 2026 and 30 April 2027.

The application period opens on 18 December 2025 and closes on 15 January 2026 at 16.15. Applications received after the deadline will not be processed.

Applying for a discretionary government grant

Complete the application form and provide an estimate of costs. Forms are available at https://stm.fi/valtionavustukset_lomakkeet. Attach a plan for the activities to be carried out with the government grant. Send your application to the Ministry’s registry at [email protected], quoting reference VN/34877/2025.

Materials

Inquiries

Sanna-Maria Kivivuori, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 163 082, [email protected]

Erja Mustonen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 163 179, [email protected]

Read more about discretionary government grants: https://stm.fi/valtionavustusten-hakeminen

Discretionary government grant for development tasks of the Finnish Centre for Client and Patient Safety in Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county