Preparation of women’s health strategy begins

At the initiative of Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has launched preparations for a national women’s health strategy. The aim of the strategy is to gather information on women’s health and identify solutions that can promote women’s health, wellbeing and ability to work.

The groundwork for preparing the strategy was laid during a round-table discussion held on 18 March. There are still challenges related to women’s health that remain underdiagnosed and receive too little attention. The discussion highlighted how menopause symptoms, migraine and mental health issues, for example, affect a large number of women at different stages of life. Yet, shortcomings persist in how these are recognised and treated.

“Although women make up half of the population, there is less information and research available on their health and they receive less treatment than men. Examples include menopause or women’s gynaecological conditions, but also chronic diseases where women’s symptoms are more likely to go unrecognised,” saysMinister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

“Many measures have already been taken to promote women’s health and wellbeing. For instance, we now have new information on how to recognise menopause symptoms at work and in occupational healthcare. The Government has increased the reimbursements for appointments with gynaecologists paid by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), reduced the value added tax rate for sanitary pads and allocated resources for drawing up Current Care Guidelines for endometriosis. A comprehensive strategy will respond to the need to gather information on women’s health and to identify solutions that promote women’s health and ability to work,” says Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

Women’s health affects wellbeing, working life and the economy

Women’s health has a significant impact on the sustainability of society, working life and the economy. Women experience prolonged symptoms and illnesses more often than men and face longer delays in receiving a diagnosis.

In Finland, the labour market remains strongly segregated by gender. The strain of work in female-dominated fields and the uneven distribution of care responsibilities weaken women’s ability to work and their opportunities in working life.

Solutions for women’s health are also sought internationally and through multilateral cooperation.

“Structural problems that weaken women’s health are global. Sexual and reproductive health, for example, is still not a right enjoyed by all women, and services related to this right are even being weakened in some parts of the world. It is therefore important for Finland to play an active role in developing common solutions,” says Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

Strategy to be prepared through broad cooperation

The groundwork for preparing the strategy was laid during the spring, and now more extensive preparation work is required. This work will be supported by a working group appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, which began its work on 12 June.

The group includes experts from higher education institutions, labour market organisations, civil society organisations, businesses, the public sector and other stakeholder groups. The working group is chaired by State Secretary Laura Rissanen, with Antti Koivula, Director General of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, serving as vice-chair.

The strategy is due to be completed in early 2027.

Growth Programme supports strategy work

As part of the preparation of the strategy, women’s health will be discussed from the perspective of research, new solutions and business activities. This work will be supported by the RDI Growth Programme for Health and Wellbeing coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The Growth Programme examines how the conditions for business activities related to women’s health can be improved in Finland. The aim is to strengthen cooperation between businesses, researchers and other parties involved and to support the development of new products, services and technologies. Products, services and technologies relating to women’s health form a rapidly growing international market.

The work will examine such aspects as the scarcity of research funding, barriers to clinical trials, efforts to attract investments, and difficulties in finding new solutions that can be tested and adopted in healthcare. The parties involved in the preparation work include Healthscape Design Oy.

Inquiries:

Tanja Auvinen, Director, Department for Work and Gender Equality, tel. +358 295 163 715
Piia Mattila, Senior Specialist, Department for Work and Gender Equality, tel. +358 295 163 476
Outi Forsström, Project Manager, RDI Growth Programme for Health and Wellbeing, tel. +358 295 163 080

The email addresses of the Finnish Government are in the format [email protected]