Give us feedback on the draft strategy for digitalisation and information management in healthcare and social welfare

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests feedback on a draft strategy for digitalisation and information management in healthcare and social welfare. The strategy is entitled in Finnish ‘Digitalisaatiolla kestävää hyvinvointia ja terveyttä’ (Sustainable wellbeing and health through digitalisation). Comments on the draft can be given at two open discussion events to be held in autumn 2023 or they can be submitted online. Feedback is requested particularly from key stakeholders and operators in the healthcare and social welfare sector.

Feedback can be submitted online until 15 September 2023.

• Please use this formLink to an external websiteOpens in a new tab to give feedback

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will also organise two open discussion events on 4 and 12 September 2023 where it is possible to give feedback on the draft strategy.

• More information about the discussion event on the strategy work concerning digitalisation and information management in healthcare and social welfare on 4 September (in Finnish)
• More information about the discussion event on the strategy work concerning digitalisation and information management in healthcare and social welfare on 12 September (in Finnish)

What is the strategy for digitalisation and information management in healthcare and social welfare?

The strategy describes the key objectives of digitalisation and information management in healthcare and social welfare for the next few years and for the longer term. The objectives for the next few years have been reconciled with Prime Minister Orpo's Government Programme. The long-term objectives extend to 2035. The outcome will be a strategic roadmap that helps strengthen the guidance of information management and digitalisation and the continuity of long-term development across government terms.

The strategy consists of a vision, four objectives and measures that implement them. The factors that make it possible to achieve the objectives have also been identified. The aim of the strategy is to enable more extensive individual initiative in maintaining health and wellbeing, improve public health with the help of effective, information-based health and social services and promote the smooth running of services through digitalisation and the introduction of advanced technologies.

Phases of strategy work and results of citizen survey 

The Unit for Digitalisation and Information Management, which is part of the Ministry’s Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare, began the work on putting together the strategy in spring 2023, and now this work has reached its final phase. The strategy work has included making use of the broad range of background material, organising workshops for representatives of wellbeing services counties and other key operators and conducting a citizen survey. The next phase will be to finalise the draft strategy for administrative and political discussion. The aim is to publish the strategy in late 2023.

The citizen survey highlighted the potential of digital services to increase flexibility in services and service processes. Thanks to digital services, professionals will be expected to have more time in future to meet clients in person.  Respondents to the survey also hoped that digital services would be easy to use and their accessibility improved. Patient and client information should also be easily available to clients and flow smoothly between different service providers.

Inquiries

Riikka Vuokko, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 163 600, riikka.vuokko@gov.fi
Teemupekka Virtanen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 163 370, teemupekka.virtanen@gov.fi