Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Minister of Social Security

Karoliina Partanen

The National Coalition Party

Minister of Social Security Karoliina Partanen is responsible for matters covered by the Department for Insurance and Social Security, the Department for Work and Gender Equality and the Department for Safety, Security and Health.

Minister of Social Security Karoliina Partanen is responsible for the following matters

Biotechnology and medicines

  • biobanks 
  • gene technology
  • processing of genomic data
  • legislation on organs and tissues
  • pharmaceutical services
    • production, wholesale and retail sale of medicines
    • medicine reimbursement system
    • compulsory stockpiling 
  • medical research (research legislation)
  • medical devices
  • Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board

Pensions and private insurances

  • insurance against occupational accidents and diseases, motor liability insurance and patient insurance
  • earnings-related pension and national pension
  • insurance market and regulation of insurance activities

Benefits and allowances

  • adoption grant
  • adult education allowance
  • residence-based social security
  • child maintenance allowance
  • housing allowance for pensioners
  • rehabilitation organised by the Social Insurance Institution Kela and Kela rehabilitation allowance 
  • childcare allowances
  • child benefits
  • social security issues related to immigration
  • front veteran’s supplement, veteran badges, rehabilitation of disabled veterans’ spouses and front-line allowance for foreign volunteer front-line soldiers
  • health insurance (daily allowances and reimbursements)
    • reimbursements for medicines
    • reimbursements for travel expenses
    • reimbursements for medical expenses
    • sickness allowances
    • employer’s funds
    • reimbursements for organising occupational healthcare
    • allowances for parents during family leaves
  • conscript’s allowance
  • military injuries indemnities
  • free-of-charge treatments under the Communicable Diseases Act and the Act on Client Charges in Healthcare and Social Welfare
  • social assistance
  • unemployment security
  • disability benefits
  • general housing allowance
  • maternity grants

Protection of health and wellbeing

  • alcohol, drug and tobacco policy and harm resulting from gambling
  • substance abuse prevention
  • national vaccination programme and vaccine procurement
  • prevention of home and leisure injuries
  • family violence and violence against women
  • prevention of communicable diseases
  • health protection (incl. chemicals legislation and radiation safety)
  • environmental healthcare

Farm relief services

  • livestock farming, reindeer herding and fur farming

Gender equality

  • equal pay
  • gender equality legislation
  • gender equality policy

Healthy and safe workplaces

  • occupational safety and health
  • occupational healthcare
  • operation and funding of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
  • supervision of the Finnish Work Environment Fund and confirmation of its rules

Preparedness and readiness 

  • matters which the Preparedness Unit is responsible for preparing (incl. emergency medical helicopter services)

General matters

  • data protection
  • Social Security Appeal Board (performance guidance)

Each minister addresses the particular matters concerning EU and international affairs, appointments and human resources that fall within their areas of responsibility. Within their respective areas, ministers also oversee financial planning and the preparation of budgets and other matters.

Personal details

Member of Parliament
The National Coalition Party
Date and place of birth: 1.1.1983 Jyväskylä
Domicile: Kuopio

Minister of Social Security 16.6.2026 -

Days in office 11

Previous ministerial duties

Curriculum vitae and work in Parliament

Profile

Minister of Social Security Karoliina Partanen was born in Jyväskylä in 1983. She has been a Member of Parliament representing the National Coalition Party since 2023.

Partanen holds a Master of Laws degree and has been awarded the title of Master of Laws, trained on the bench. Before being elected to Parliament, she worked as a lawyer in the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses (SuPer) and, for the last nine years, as an attorney-at-law. As an attorney-at-law her main focus was on children, young people, families and crime victims, and on labour law matters.

Partanen has served as deputy chair of the National Coalition Party since 2024. In Parliament she has been member of the Constitutional Law Committee and the Employment and Equality Committee and deputy member of the Legal Affairs Committee. She has also served as chair of the Council for Gender Equality, the UN Association of Finland and Parliament’s Friends of the UN group, member of the Supervisory Board of Veikkaus and member of the High Court of Impeachment. 

Partanen is Councillor of the City of Kuopio and member of the County Council of the North Savo Wellbeing Services County, and she has also served as member of the County Executive. She has also chaired the eastern Finland regional chapter of the Finnish Bar Association and served as vice-chair of the ANTI Contemporary Art Festival and member of the Board of Kuopion Yrittäjät.
She lives with a partner and son and a Golden Retriever named Pablo. She enjoys physical activities and nature and loves to learn new things. In summer she is an eager urban farmer and berry picker.

Further information

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