Preparedness and readiness in healthcare and social welfare secure services during incidents and emergencies  

Preparedness means activities ensuring that all tasks can continue with minimal disruption and the required exceptional measures can be taken during incidents and emergencies. Preparedness measures include contingency planning and related training and exercises. Healthcare and social welfare services must also function during various incidents and emergencies affecting society.  

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health directs, supervises and coordinates preparedness for incidents and emergencies in healthcare and social welfare. The Preparedness Unit, which works under the Department for Safety, Security and Health, is in charge of preparedness matters at the Ministry. 

• Department for Safety, Security and Health and the Preparedness Unit

The wellbeing services counties, the HUS Group and the City of Helsinki are responsible for preparedness and contingency planning relating to their own operations. Each wellbeing services county belongs to one of the five collaborative areas for healthcare and social welfare.  

Preparedness centres

The centres for preparedness in healthcare and social welfare operate within the five collaborative areas. Responsibility for organising the operation of these centres lies with the counties with a university hospital and the HUS Group. The centres guide contingency planning in healthcare and social welfare within their respective collaborative areas. 

Together with the preparedness centres, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health forms an up-to-date national situation picture of healthcare and social welfare, covering primary healthcare, specialised healthcare, prehospital emergency medical services and social welfare
The preparedness centres operate as a national network, working in close cooperation with other authorities.  

Which legislative provisions govern preparedness? 

Under the Emergency Powers Act, the authorities must ensure that they can carry out their duties with minimal disruption even in emergency conditions. 

• Emergency Powers Act 1552/2011

Preparedness in healthcare and social welfare is also regulated by: 

• Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services 612/2021 (in Finnish and Swedish), chapter 7
• Decree on the Preparedness of Wellbeing Services Counties for Disruptions in Healthcare and Social Welfare 308/2023 issued under section 50, subsection 4 of the Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services (in Finnish and Swedish)
• Act on Wellbeing Services Counties 611/2021

Advisory Board on Healthcare and Social Welfare in Emergency Conditions

The Advisory Board on Healthcare and Social Welfare in Emergency Conditions plans and prepares not only the management of healthcare and social welfare under emergency conditions, but also the matters and support measures related to preparedness under normal conditions, as the organisation of these forms the basis for preparedness in emergencies. On the proposal of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Government may appoint the Advisory Board for a maximum of five years at a time. The Advisory Board may submit legislative and operational proposals to the Ministry regarding preparedness.  

• Act on the Advisory Board on Healthcare and Social Welfare in Emergency Conditions (in Finnish and Swedish)

National Preparedness Group for Healthcare and Social Welfare

The National Preparedness Group for Healthcare and Social Welfare supports the Ministry in decision-making concerning the allocation of healthcare and social welfare resources in incidents under normal conditions and in emergency conditions. 

• Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services, section 50c (in Finnish and Swedish) 

International cooperation on preparedness

The Finnish healthcare and social welfare sector is closely involved in international cooperation. This cooperation takes place through EU and NATO networks, for example. The Nordic countries also engage in close and concrete cooperation with each other. 

As an example of EU cooperation, Finland has hosted shared EU emergency (or rescEU) stockpiles since 2023, storing supplies such as medicines, medical supplies, personal protective equipment and measuring equipment. Finland has received a total of EUR 305 million in funding from the European Commission for the creation of these stockpiles. Similar stockpiles have also been located in other EU countries, and they are part of the strategic capacities under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. 

• Read more about Finland’s rescEU reserve projects