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31.1.2019 | There are more means than before to prevent suicides among the Sámi living in Finland, Sweden and Norway. Taking those means into use requires more funding, skilful helpers and knowledge about the factors behind the increased suicide risk among the Sámi. All these require greater political will.

26.6.2019 | Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on vaccinations The following is issued by decision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health pursuant to section 54 of the Communicable Diseases Act (1227/2016): Section 1 National vaccinatio...

24.2.2017 | Every fifth Finn in working age suffers from chronic pain that may even lead to loss of work ability. Surveys indicate that resources available for treating chronic pain and cancer pain are inadequate compared to treatment needs. There are also significant regional differences in the availability of treatment.

20.10.2016 | The Government proposes the implementation of a basic income experiment. The experiment would be carried out in 2017 and 2018, and its aim is to show whether basic income can be used to reform social security so that incentive traps relating to work are eliminated.

19.1.2017 | In future, occupational health care will be more closely connected to the systems of health and social services and rehabilitation. More occupational health care measures than today will be available to maintain employees’ ability to work and to support longer working careers. The aim is to help those, who have reduced capacity for work to continue working more often than today. These outlines ...

13.3.2018 | Finland has published, for the first time, a National Action Plan on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Action Plan will implement the UN Convention that entered into force in summer 2016. The aim is to strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities and to improve their opportunities for participation.

11.3.2013 | The numbers of immigrants in Finland have grown rapidly in the last couple of decades. In 1990 there were just 26 000 foreign nationals living in Finland, but by 2011 this had risen to 183 000. Despite this, the authorities have had scant information on the health and welfare of immigrants. The Finnish service system has not been able to meet all the particular needs faced by immigrants, explains MSAH Ministerial Counsellor Viveca Arrhenius. "In the past we have tended rely on gut instinct.

5.6.2020 | Reform of health, social and rescue services Policy outlines of the Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru Press conference on 5 June 2020 About the reform • Reduce inequ...

22.11.2016 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests opinions from stakeholders on the draft government proposal to Parliament on the Alcohol Act and other related Acts. The deadline for comments is 16 January 2017. The government proposal on the Alcohol Act could be submitted to Parliament during the spring session 2017. The entry into force of the act will be decided during parliamentary discussions.

11.2.2016 | Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Juha Rehula presented his preliminary proposal on an overall revision of Alhohol Act at the meeting of the ministerial working group on promotion of health and wellbeing. The meeting was held on Thursday, 11 February. The Government aims to update the obsolete alcohol legislation and to submit their proposal to Parliament in the early summer. The proposal will be sent on a consultation round as soon as possible.

7.11.2019 | On Thursday, 7 November, the Government appointed Markus Henriksson as Director-General of Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health. Henriksson will continue in his current position as he has served as Director-General of the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health since 2017.

14.2.2020 | A comprehensive social security reform to be launched in spring 2020 is one of the major reform projects of this decade in Finland.

31.10.2019 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities have updated the quality recommendation for child welfare. In the same connection, quality criteria was drawn up for substitute care and for monitoring it.

31.1.2022 | At its meeting on 7 January, the Ministerial Working Group on COVID-19 issued a recommendation that people meet with no more than five persons outside their immediate family at a time. In a written procedure on Monday 31 January, the Ministerial Working Group decided to lift this recommendation as of 1 February.

6.3.2018 | All children have a right to protection, no matter whether they are born in Finland or somewhere else.

22.11.2021 | The transformation of work and new ways to work offer both challenges and opportunities for the Nordic labour market and workers’ wellbeing. The Nordic employment ministers will discuss these topics at a meeting organised by Finland as part of its Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers on 22–23 November 2021.

12.2.2019 | In its meeting on Tuesday 12 February, the ministerial working group for health and wellbeing discussed the current status of care services for the elderly. The ministerial working group decided to start its work on the reform of the Act on Care Services for Older Persons during this government term.

11.6.2020 | FINNISH GOVERNMENT | Snellmaninkatu 1 A, Helsinki, PO Box 23, FI-00023 Government, Finland Prime Minister Marin’s Government decides basis for health and social services reform The Government has finalised the policy outlines for the health and so...

11.6.2020 | The coronavirus outbreak in spring has changed everyday routines. After the initial shock, some people are even better than before. For others, a possible new wave of the virus and their own future may be frightenining and a source of anxiety. Managing daily life may be difficult.

2.12.2022 | Petteri Nurmi took up his duties as Special Adviser to Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru on 1 December 2022. His areas of responsibility are social assistance, international affairs and rehabilitation.

9.2.2022 | EU foreign and health ministers will convene for a joint ministerial conference in Lyon, France, on 9 February, and EU health ministers for an informal meeting in Grenoble on 10 February. At their joint conference, foreign and health ministers will discuss how to promote EU measures in the field of global health to support low- and middle-income countries. The meeting of health ministers will focus on the public health dimension of the European Health Union.

17.4.2020 | The economy is in crisis. Wellbeing is unevenly distributed and not everyone has equal opportunities in society. We are concerned about the state of the environment. The world of work is changing, and ageing of population will change the demographic structure. Now, if ever, is the time to talk about wellbeing broadly.

15.2.2023 | As international recruitment becomes increasingly common in the healthcare and social welfare sector, it is important to ensure that employers have sufficient competence to manage recruitment responsibly. Responsibility recommendations prepared to support recruitment promote consideration of ethical aspects and combat risks of labour exploitation.

15.2.2023 | The programme for ensuring the sufficiency and availability of healthcare and social welfare personnel, which was launched by Minister Krista Kiuru, will end as the parliamentary term draws to a close. The aim of the programme has been to find solutions to meet the labour needs of the healthcare and social welfare sector now and in the coming years.

4.2.2022 | On Friday 4 February, the President of the Republic appointed Member of Parliament Aki Lindén, Licentiate of Medicine and Master of Social Sciences, to serve as Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services and as a member of the Government.

1.6.2021 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is continuing to prepare legislation on the self-determination of clients and patients. A roadmap extending beyond the term of the current Government will also be drawn up to strengthen client and patient participation and rights, and a broad-based monitoring group will be appointed to support this work.

23.2.2023 | On Thursday 23 February, the Government appointed Liisa Perttula as the new Director of Human Resources and Administration at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Perttula will take up her duties on 1 March 2023.

14.1.2022 | In its meeting on Friday 14 January, the Government’s Ministerial Working Group on Coordinating COVID-19 Response discussed the development of the epidemic, closures of food and beverage service businesses and compensation for the costs of restrictive measures. On Friday morning, the ministerial working group received an overview of the epidemiological situation and heard preliminary assessments...

25.11.2021 | On 25 November, the Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services discussed the COVID-19 situation in Finland and the restrictions in place. The Ministerial Working Group proposes tighter restrictions on food and beverage service businesses. The Government will decide on the matter as soon as possible.

10.2.2022 | The national strategy for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing has been updated. The aim is to identify the causes of severe respiratory infections and to prevent the spread of infections particularly among groups of people who have a high risk of developing a more serious form of the disease.

28.2.2024 | The quality recommendation for older people strives to guarantee the active ageing and functional capacity of older people along with sustainable services. The quality recommendation is a tool for planning, developing and assessing services for older people. The recommendation is also intended for older people themselves and their families and other people close to them.

24.2.2022 | The new Client and Patient Safety Strategy and its Implementation Plan for 2022–2026 have been published. The vision of the Strategy is to make Finland a model country for client and patient safety in 2026 and to prevent avoidable harm.

8.2.2022 | On Tuesday 8 February, the Ministerial Working Group on Coordinating COVID-19 Response continued the preparations for implementing the decisions made in the Government’s negotiations last week. The ministerial working group also decided in favour of lifting the recommendation on remote work at the end of February. Decrees on easing restaurant restrictions and extending the suspension of the use of the COVID-19 passport in its current form are under preparation.

2.2.2021 | The Global Risks Report  of the World Economic Forum includes extreme weather and climate action failure, infectious diseases and digital inequality in the list of world’s greatest threats in 2021. These issues also directly impact occupational safety and health (OSH). 

13.10.2020 | The Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services has reviewed the comments received during the consultation round, organised from 15 June to 25 September, on the health and social services reform and outlined policies and made changes to the draft government proposal. The draft bill will be submitted to the Finnish Council of Regulatory Impact Analysis (FCRIA) on 14 October 2020. The Government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament in early December 2020.

30.1.2023 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has instructed airlines that people travelling from China to Finland should be required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 48 hours before the start of their trip. Passengers should also wear a mask or respirator during flights.

8.12.2020 | The Government proposes that wellbeing services counties be established and healthcare, social welfare and rescue services be reformed. The proposed counties would be established as soon as possible after the passing and approval of the relevant bills. The bills would enter into force in stages, the first ones on 1 July 2021 and the last ones on 1 January 2023. However, Parliament needs to pass the legislative package before the reform can enter into force.

22.10.2020 | A summary of comments received on the draft government proposal on the organisation of health, social and rescue services is published. It collates the main comments received during the consultation round on the draft government proposal. Respondents welcome the objectives of the reform and agree on its necessity.

21.10.2020 | A summary of comments received on the draft government proposal on the organisation of health, social and rescue services is published. Respondents welcome the objectives of the reform and agree on its necessity.

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 1 January 2023 simultaneously with the health and social services reform. The amendments will also apply to other client groups of social services.