Government proposal on financial support for electricity for households submitted to Parliament

20.10.2022

The aim of the proposal is to support low-income households that have difficulties in paying their electricity bills. Financial support for electricity would be available to households that...
Ukrainian children in need of child protection services will not be evacuated to Finland

19.10.2022

At Ukraine’s request, Finland was prepared to take in Ukrainian children in need of child protection services. Ukraine made a similar request to several countries in late spring 2022.
Decree on user fees for Kanta Services updated

14.10.2022

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has updated the decree on the user fees for the Kanta Services. The user fees are charged from enablers of healthcare services and pharmacies.
Energy poverty and labour market integration of Ukrainian refugees on the agenda at meeting of EU employment and social affairs ministers in Prague

13.10.2022

The EU ministers responsible for employment and social affairs will convene for an informal meeting in Prague on 13–14 October 2022. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen will...
Hanna Sarkkinen
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health updates guidelines on the use of iodine in case of a radiation hazard

11.10.2022

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has updated the guidelines for the use of iodine in case of a radiation hazard. The previous version of the guidelines was published in 2002. The updated...
International audit of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare begins

3.10.2022

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has launched an international audit of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare as agreed in the Institute's performance agreement. Completed in early...
Freedom does not happen by itself. Respond to the backlash against gender equality and LGBTI rights

3.10.2022

Saturday night on 25 June got off to a good start in Oslo. It was the Pride Festival. It was the day before the Pride Parade.
Thomas Blomqvist
Future WHO pandemic treaty discussed in Helsinki

30.9.2022

Various parties are currently reviewing the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization is preparing a new pandemic treaty to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness...
Act on legal recognition of gender to be submitted to Parliament

22.9.2022

The Government has submitted a proposal for an act on legal recognition of gender and for related acts. The legal recognition of gender would be separated from medical examinations and treatments....
Ukraine and Finland discuss helping children in need of child protection

20.9.2022

In spring 2022, Ukraine requested Finland to examine whether Finland could, under the Hague Convention, receive children who are fleeing the war in Ukraine and are in need of child protection.
Reimbursement scheme for cross-border healthcare to be harmonised

15.9.2022

The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Cross-Border Health Care. The most central amendments deal with renewing the right to reimbursement under the Directive on the Application of...
Health ministers to discuss vaccinations, cancer and the health impacts of the war in Ukraine

6.9.2022

The EU health ministers are holding an informal meeting in Prague on 7 September 2022. They will discuss the health impacts of the war in Ukraine, vaccinations, the implementation of the EU’s...
National Child Strategy Unit to be established in Finland

2.9.2022

Finland will set up a National Child Strategy Unit to promote a child- and family-friendly society that respect the rights of the child and to coordinate the implementation of the key policies of...
Aki Lindén
Finland launches independent overall assessment of promotion of equal pay

2.9.2022

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has launched an overall assessment of the equal pay measures introduced during this government term. The assessment covers the joint Equal Pay Programme...
Thomas Blomqvist
Work Life Forum Finland 2022 focuses on current picture of working life

31.8.2022

Finland is preparing for a challenging autumn and winter. Inflation, rising energy prices, Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and climate change challenge society as a whole at many different...
Legislative reform develops services provided at home and housing services for older people

25.8.2022

The second phase of the reform concerning services for older people will improve particularly services provided at home and housing services. The reform will, for the most part, enter into force on...
Batch of monkeypox vaccines arrives in Finland

17.8.2022

Finland has received a donation of monkeypox vaccines from the EU Commission. The vaccines will be distributed to the hospital districts, which are responsible for administering the vaccines.
2023 draft budget of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its administrative branch

5.8.2022

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes appropriations of about EUR 15.8 billion for the Ministry and its administrative branch for 2023. This is about EUR 0.2 billion less than in the...
Veli-Mikko Niemi appointed as new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

4.8.2022

On Thursday 4 August, the Government appointed Director General Veli-Mikko Niemi as the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. His term as Permanent Secretary will...
Family leave reform increases equality and takes better account of different types of families

1.8.2022

The family leave reform enters into force on 1 August 2022. The new types of parental leave will mainly apply to parents expecting a child on or after 4 September 2022.