Healthcare and social welfare system and responsibilities

Finland’s healthcare and social welfare system is founded on public healthcare and social welfare services funded from tax revenue.

Alongside the public sector, private companies provide health and social services. There are also many healthcare and social welfare organisations in Finland that provide services both free of charge and for a fee.

Guidance

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

• directs and guides the development and policies of social security and healthcare and social welfare services
• defines the guidelines for healthcare and social welfare policy, prepares key reforms and guides their implementation and coordination
• drafts legislation required to introduce such reforms and guides its implementation
• liaises with political decision-makers.

Research and development

The government agencies and public bodies within the Ministry’s branch of government are responsible for research and development in the branch. The Ministry’s branch of government includes:

• the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
• the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea)
• the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK)
• the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (TTL)
   
• Government agencies and public bodies in the Ministry’s administrative branch

Organisation of health and social services

Wellbeing services counties are responsible for organising healthcare and social welfare services in Finland. 

These services include primary healthcare, specialised healthcare, social welfare, dental healthcare, mental health and substance use services, child welfare, services for persons with disabilities and services for older people.

In addition to the organisation of health and social services, the counties, as a rule, provide these services in their area. 

Municipalities and wellbeing services counties cooperate in promoting health and wellbeing. Private operators, along with organisations and associations, supplement public health and social services.

The counties are also responsible for organising rescue services in Finland.

There are 21 wellbeing services counties, which were established mainly on the basis of the division into regions. The Region of Uusimaa is divided into four wellbeing services counties. The City of Helsinki is responsible for organising health, social and rescue services in its area. HUS Group is responsible for demanding specialised healthcare duties separately provided by law.

Responsibility for organising services was transferred from municipalities and joint municipal authorities to counties at the beginning of 2023.

Licensing and supervision

As of the beginning of 2026, the Finnish Supervisory Agency is responsible for licensing and supervision in the healthcare and social welfare sector. The new agency is responsible for the tasks previously carried out by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) and the six regional state administrative agencies. 

The agency guides and supervises public and private healthcare and social welfare services and assesses the availability and quality of basic public services in the counties. It also grants operating licences to private service providers in the area.

Furthermore, the agency guides, supervises and manages the administration of licences for the healthcare and social welfare sector, alcohol administration and environmental healthcare.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health guides the operation of the agency’s Health and Social Welfare Department.

• Website of the Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV)