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nordic cooperationhttps://stm.fi/en/nordic-cooperation/finnish-presidency-2021
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Responsibilities of ministers in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health In Petteri Orpo’s Government, two ministers are responsible for matters falling within the mandate of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Minister of Social Security...https://stm.fi/en/responsibilities-of-ministers-in-the-ministry-of-social-affairs-and-health
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9.3.2026 | EU ministers will convene for a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels on 9 March. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Wille Rydman will represent Finland at the meeting.https://stm.fi/en/-/poverty-and-social-exclusion-on-the-agenda-for-eu-ministers-meeting-on-9-march
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International cooperation on gender equality European Union Gender equality is promoted in the EU using legislation and gender equality policies. The promotion of equality between men and women and the elimination of discrimination are among the E...https://stm.fi/en/gender-equality/international-cooperation
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7.10.2025 | The Nordic ministers responsible for gender equality and LGBTI will meet in Hämeenlinna on 7 October. The meeting will be chaired by Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.https://stm.fi/en/-/nordic-gender-equality-ministers-to-meet-in-hameenlinna
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Nordic cooperation Nordic cooperation involves Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Åland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The vision of the Nordic countries is to make the Nordic region the most sustainable and integrated region in the wor...https://stm.fi/en/international-cooperation/nordic
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1.12.2025 | The EU ministers will attend the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels on 1 and 2 December 2025. On both days, Finland will be represented by Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso.https://stm.fi/en/-/eu-ministers-to-discuss-carcinogens-and-mutagens-directive-critical-medicines-simplification-of-legislation-and-european-globalisation-adjustment-fund
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Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen The National Coalition Party Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen is responsible for matters covered by the Department for Insurance and Social Secu...https://stm.fi/en/minister-of-social-security
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Amended legislation on health checks for children and young adults Type: Press release Categories: Publication date: 22.12.2025 Request for comments: Legislative amendment would extend right of small alcohol producers to sell their products direct...https://stm.fi/en/news
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Management and organisation Two ministers and one permanent secretary run the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. A State Secretary may assist the ministers in their tasks. There are six departments in the ministry, in charge of the preparation...https://stm.fi/en/management-and-organisation
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International and EU affairs The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its administrative branch engage in proactive international and EU cooperation that promotes health and social policy. As part of the Government, the Ministry is responsibl...https://stm.fi/en/international-cooperation
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Amended legislation on health checks for children and young adults Categories: Publication date: 22.12.2025 The timing and content of health checks at child health clinics and schools, and in student healthcare and oral healthcare will be regulate...https://stm.fi/en/press-releases
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International Affairs Unit The International Affairs Unit develops, plans and coordinates international affairs in the Ministry's administrative sector. The International Affairs Unit coordinates the administrative sector’s activities in intergove...https://stm.fi/en/international-affairs-unit-kvy
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Occupational safety and health (OSH) The MSAH prepares and develops legislation and policies on OSH and deals with international cooperation in this field. The ministry also guides the occupational safety and health work of the The Finnish Supervi...https://stm.fi/en/occupational-safety-and-health
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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 he...https://stm.fi/en/social-and-health-services/responsible-agencies
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Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Minister of Social Affairs and Health Wille Rydman The Finns Party Minister of Social Affairs and Health Wille Rydman is responsible for all other matters covered by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, ...https://stm.fi/en/minister-of-social-affairs-and-health
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10.12.2025 | An independent group of experts has conducted a broad-based interim evaluation of the wellbeing services county reform, which was published on 10 December. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso, Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen and Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen consider the findings valuable.https://stm.fi/en/-/ministers-steering-wellbeing-services-counties-fixing-the-flaws-of-the-wellbeing-services-county-reform-requires-persistence
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8.10.2025 | Gender Equality Days is the main annual event in the field of gender equality in Finland, and this year it will be organised as part of the programme for Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the UN World Conference on Women in 1995.https://stm.fi/en/-/nordic-gender-equality-ministers-and-experts-to-meet-in-vantaa
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Preparation of EU matters Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) The EPSCO Council, which brings together ministers from all EU Member States, decides on EU cooperation in employment, social policy, health, consumer...https://stm.fi/en/international-cooperation/eu/preparation-of-eu-affairs
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Vaccinations Decision-making by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health concerning the vaccination programme is made with the support of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Municipalities are responsible for the practical arrange...https://stm.fi/en/vaccinations
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European Committee of Social Rights The European Committee of Social Rights is an impartial investigative body working within the Council of Europe. The Committee investigates whether or not the countries that have ratified the European Social Cha...https://stm.fi/en/european-committee-of-social-rights
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Strategic and Financial Management Unit The Strategic and Financial Management Unit assists and supports the Permanent Secretary and is in charge of developing the Ministry’s strategic leadership. The Unit is responsible for advancing and developi...https://stm.fi/en/strategic-and-financial-management-unit-star
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The Ministry The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSAH) is one of the 12 ministries in the Government. The Ministry's tasks promote the good health and functional capacity of people promote healthy living and working environments secure suff...https://stm.fi/en/ministry
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Contact information The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Telephone: +358 295 16001 (Government switchboard) Postal address: PO Box 33, FI-00023 Government, Finland Visiting address: Meritullinkatu 8, 00170 Helsinki Telefax: +358 2951 63415 (r...https://stm.fi/en/contact
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Roma policy in Finland The overall objective of Finland’s National Roma Policy is to promote the inclusion, participation and equality of the Roma in different spheres of life. The policy programme is a comprehensive action plan, prepared in coope...https://stm.fi/en/participation-roma
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The Ministry's social media sites are maintained by the Communications Unit. When necessary, we moderate discussions and delete any illegal or inappropriate comments. We do not comment on individual cases on social media or provide advice for different life situations.https://stm.fi/en/msah-on-social-media
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Northern Dimension The Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Wellbeing (NDPHS) provides a platform for expert-level cooperation in the field of health and wellbeing. NDPHS aims to lead the way to sustainable and inclusive soci...https://stm.fi/en/international-cooperation/northern-dimension
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11.6.2025 | The Nordic ministers for health and social affairs and the Nordic and Baltic ministers for digitalisation have issued a joint declaration on artificial intelligence (AI) and the rights of persons with disabilities.https://stm.fi/en/-/ministers-issue-declaration-on-artificial-intelligence-and-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities
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Rational, or sensible, pharmacotherapy is effective, safe, of high quality, economical and equal.https://stm.fi/en/rational-pharmacotherapy
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5.9.2025 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen met with public authorities and experts on 5 September to discuss the synthetic drug alpha-PVP. The discussions highlighted that the spread of alpha-PVP is a complex problem and tackling it requires broad-based cooperation.https://stm.fi/en/-/ministers-grahn-laasonen-and-rantanen-finland-to-tackle-rising-alpha-pvp-use-through-cooperation-and-intensified-action
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Secondary use of health and social data A separate law has be laid down on the secondary use of health and social data (Act on the Secondary Use of Health and Social Data). The purpose of the Act is to facilitate the effective and safe processing ...https://stm.fi/en/secondary-use-of-health-and-social-data
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Guidance of information management in healthcare and social welfare The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the general planning, guidance and monitoring of information management within its administrative branch and for the f...https://stm.fi/en/social-and-health-services/information-management
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22.5.2025 | Ukraine held a Ministerial Social Policy Summit in Lviv on 22 May. The theme of the Summit was ‘Building Resilient Societies: Innovative Solutions for Demographic Change’. The Summit also issued a joint communiqué, in which the participating countries expressed their support for Ukraine and Moldova on their path towards joining the European Union.https://stm.fi/en/-/eu-social-affairs-ministers-support-ukraine-s-and-moldova-s-aspirations-for-eu-membership
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International examples to help Finland create governance model for wellbeing economy 4.12.2025 8.46 The economy of wellbeing offers tools for policy makers to secure the preconditions for a good life both for the current population and future gene...https://stm.fi/en/columns
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24.7.2024 | An informal meeting of EU health ministers will be held on 24 and 25 July 2024. Finland will be represented in the meeting by Annakaisa Iivari, Director General at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.https://stm.fi/en/-/cardiovascular-health-and-organ-donation-and-transplantation-on-the-agenda-of-informal-meeting-of-health-ministers
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19.6.2024 | The EU ministers will meet at the Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 June 2024. The items of the ministers' agenda include the social dimension of the single market, the revision of pharmaceutical legislation, the health sector's role in crisis preparedness, and the possibility of adopting a Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers.https://stm.fi/en/-/eu-ministers-meet-agenda-to-cover-pharmaceutical-package-vaccine-preventable-cancers-and-social-dimension-of-the-single-market
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6.6.2025 | The Baltic Pride Conference, taking place in Vilnius on 6 June, will discuss the inclusion and rights of LGBTI people. The event will be opened by State Secretary Laura Rissanen as part of Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.https://stm.fi/en/-/baltic-pride-2025-conference-to-highlight-lgbti-rights-and-equality
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6.10.2025 | Preparedness and data-driven decision-making in the field of pharmaceuticals were the key topics of discussion at a conference organised by Finland in Helsinki on 30 September–1 October 2025 as part of its Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.https://stm.fi/en/-/nordic-pharmaceutical-conference-brings-together-experts-in-helsinki-to-discuss-preparedness
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Data Protection Contact information Data Protection Officer Data Protection Officer Lassi Kauttonen The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department for Communities and Functional Capacity tietosuojavastaava.stm(at)gov.fi Controller The Minis...https://stm.fi/en/data-protection
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9.4.2026 | 1 ADI-ROM(2025)26 Restricted Strasbourg, 9 March 2026 COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON ROMA AND TRAVELLER1 ISSUES (ADI-ROM) 13th meeting Strasbourg, 1-2 April 2026 Explanatory Memorandum Recommendation to the member States on desegregation and inclusion po...https://stm.fi/documents/1271139/0/Explanatory+Memorandum+EN+Recommendation+States+on+desegregation+inclusion+policies+practices+9+March+2026+2756-1481-5763.1.pdf/0d763c6a-963b-02dc-0a76-30ff5dd7566f?t=1775767255229
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3.5.2023 | An informal meeting of EU employment and social affairs ministers will take place in Stockholm on 3–4 May 2023 and an informal meeting of EU health ministers on 4–5 May 2023. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen and Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru will represent Finland at the meetings.https://stm.fi/en/-/eu-ministers-meet-to-discuss-access-to-medicinal-products-skills-in-working-life-and-eu-social-dimension-
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27.11.2024 | The Nordic ministers responsible for gender equality and LGBTI issues met in Stockholm today on 27 November 2024. The meeting discussed, among other things, how gender equality and human rights are weakening globally. Finland was represented at the meeting by Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.https://stm.fi/en/-/nordic-countries-issue-declaration-on-promoting-gender-equality-and-rights-of-sexual-and-gender-minorities
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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 Beating Cancer Plan and other issues related to cancer.https://stm.fi/en/-/health-ministers-to-discuss-vaccinations-cancer-and-the-health-impacts-of-the-war-in-ukraine
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15.11.2024 | The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU will hold an informal meeting of the ministers responsible for demography in Budapest on 18 and 19 November 2024. The meeting will exchange views on the basis of background documents prepared by the presidency. No decisions will be made at the informal meeting. Director General Annakaisa Iivari will represent Finland at the meeting.https://stm.fi/en/-/informal-ministerial-meeting-to-discuss-intergenerational-solidarity-and-supporting-young-people
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3.5.2024 | The strategy for digitalisation and information management in healthcare and social welfare sparked discussion at a meeting of the ministerial working group on a sustainable welfare society. The ministers of the working group recognise that digitalisation plays an important role in developing new ways of providing services and using existing information to support people’s wellbeing in Finland.https://stm.fi/en/-/ministerial-working-group-on-sustainable-welfare-society-digitalisation-is-major-driver-for-change-in-healthcare-and-social-welfare-sector
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Social- och hälsovårdsministeriet Minister för social trygghet Sanni Grahn-Laasonen Samlingspartiet Minister för social trygghet Sanni Grahn-Laasonen behandlar ärenden som hör till avdelningen för social trygghet och försäkringar, avdelningen för ...https://stm.fi/sv/minister-for-social-trygghet
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18.10.2024 | Finland and Ukraine signed an agreement on bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector on Friday 18 October 2024 in Helsinki.https://stm.fi/en/-/ukraine-and-finland-sign-agreement-on-healthcare-sector-cooperation
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Contact information Communications Unit / VIE Communications Unit / VIE Iina Bister, Communications Specialist Communications Unit / VIE Address Meritullinkatu 8, 00170 Helsinki Phone number +358295163015 Email [email protected] Mariina Cervera Li...https://stm.fi/en/browse-by-department-and-unit
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5.12.2019 | The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will meet for the last time during Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Brussels on 9–10 December. Health ministers will meet on the first day, and ministers responsible for employment, social affairs and gender equality on the second day.https://stm.fi/en/-/laakepolitiikka-tyosuojelu-tasa-arvo-ja-tyooikeuden-tulevaisuus-eu-ministerikokouksen-aiheina
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7.9.2023 | The Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen was held in Kyiv on 6 September 2023 on the invitation of Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine. The summit also brought together health ministers from EU Member States and WHO European Region who signed a statement at the event.https://stm.fi/en/-/finland-agrees-with-statement-to-support-healthcare-in-ukraine-
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23.4.2024 | The health ministers of the EU Member States will discuss the availability of healthcare personnel and medicines at their informal meeting in Brussels on 23–24 April.https://stm.fi/en/-/eu-ministerial-meeting-on-healthcare-personnel-and-medicine-availability
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28.5.2026 | Ministern för social trygghet Sanni Grahn-Laasonen samtalade med regnbågsorganisationer den 27 maj om hur man kan främja jämställdhet och bekämpa anti-genderrörelsen. I diskussionen deltog utöver 13 organisationer också jämställdhetsombudsmannen och en representant för diskrimineringsombudsmannen.https://stm.fi/sv/-/minister-sanni-grahn-laasonen-synligt-stod-till-regnbagspersoner-allt-viktigare?redirect=%2Fsv%2Futkomst%2Farbetspension
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28.5.2026 | Ministern för social trygghet Sanni Grahn-Laasonen samtalade med regnbågsorganisationer den 27 maj om hur man kan främja jämställdhet och bekämpa anti-genderrörelsen. I diskussionen deltog utöver 13 organisationer också jämställdhetsombudsmannen och en representant för diskrimineringsombudsmannen.https://stm.fi/sv/-/minister-sanni-grahn-laasonen-synligt-stod-till-regnbagspersoner-allt-viktigare
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28.6.2022 | Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen will visit Tallinn on 29 June to meet with Estonia’s Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo. The topics to be discussed include the situation of Ukrainian refugees and the social security systems in both countries and developing them.https://stm.fi/en/-/minister-of-social-affairs-and-health-sarkkinen-visits-tallinn-to-discuss-the-development-of-social-security-and-the-situation-of-ukrainian-refugees
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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 represent Finland at the meeting.https://stm.fi/en/-/energy-poverty-and-labour-market-integration-of-ukrainian-refugees-on-the-agenda-at-meeting-of-eu-employment-and-social-affairs-ministers-in-prague
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16.12.2022 | Otto Köngäs took up his duties as Special Adviser to Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru on 16 December 2022. He will be responsible for issues involving alcohol and drugs, mental health, and services for older people and people with disabilities and children and young people.https://stm.fi/en/-/otto-kongas-to-serve-as-special-adviser-to-minister-kiuru
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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.https://stm.fi/en/-/freedom-does-not-happen-by-itself
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3.1.2022 | On Tuesday, 30 November 2021, the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and Ministry of Justice co-organised a seminar on the wellbeing and safety of LGBTI people as part of the programme for the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.https://stm.fi/en/-/nordic-co-operation-is-also-important-for-safeguarding-the-rights-of-lgbti-people-globally
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19.3.2026 | Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, som ansvarar för jämställdhetsfrågor, bjöd in centrala finländska aktörer till Ständerhuset den 18 mars för att diskutera kvinnors hälsa. I diskussionen deltog ett stort antal företrädare för såväl fackföreningar, näringsliv, civilsamhällesorganisationer som forskningsinstitut.https://stm.fi/sv/-/minister-grahn-laasonen-bjod-in-experter-till-ett
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8.12.2021 | The Nordic Welfare Forum will be held on 8–9 December 2021 as part of Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021. The Forum is one of the main events in the health and social sector during Finland’s Presidency.https://stm.fi/en/-/nordic-welfare-forum-discusses-effects-of-covid-19-pandemic-and-societal-challenges