We will update the contents of the stm.fi website and links to the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in may-June due to the renewal of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare's web service. Some links may not work during updates.
Search
- Fess search
-
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
-
The status and rights of clients and patients The status and rights of patients and social welfare clients are protected by: the Act on the Status and Rights of Patients 785/1992 (Finlex) the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients ...https://stm.fi/en/client-and-patient-rights
-
User's rights and requests for personal data When you want to know what data we store about you and who processes your data, you can check the data we have collected about you and update it, if necessary. You can submit a request to check your per...https://stm.fi/en/data-protection/user-s-rights-and-requests-for-personal-data
-
The Advisory Board for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the national coordinating mechanism for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Its function is to promote national implementation of the Convention and to take into account the rights of persons with disabilities in all aspects of government. The Board operates under Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. It consi...https://stm.fi/en/project?tunnus=STM035:00/2023
-
The Child Strategy is Finland’s national long-term plan for strengthening the wellbeing and rights of children, young people and families with children.https://stm.fi/en/child-strategy
-
Disability policy promotes equality Disability policy is made up of society’s actions and policies that ensure equal opportunities, rights and services in Finland for persons with disabilities. What are the principles of Finland’s disability polic...https://stm.fi/en/disability-policy
-
Patient ombudspersons and social services ombudspersons Patient ombudspersons and social services ombudspersons advise and assist patients or social welfare clients in situations where they are dissatisfied with the healthcare or social welfare se...https://stm.fi/en/patient-ombudspersons-and-social-services-ombudspersons
-
Council of Europe The areas of cooperation of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in the Council of Europe (CoE) include: Roma issues the rights of persons with disabilities children’s rights drug policy bioethics quality of medicines gender...https://stm.fi/en/international-cooperation/coe
-
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
-
Children, youth and families The MSAH is responsible for family policy as well as maintaining and developing the welfare of children, youth and families jointly with other ministries. The MSAH's scope of responsibility is particularly concerned wi...https://stm.fi/en/children-youth-families
-
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s assessment of the combined impacts of government proposals, taking into account fundamental and human rights. The assessment memorandums are prepared annually as part of official duties and published in the Government Project Register Hankeikkuna.https://stm.fi/en/project?tunnus=STM062:00/2025
-
Department for Clients and Services in Healthcare and Social Welfare The Department for Clients and Services in Healthcare and Social Welfare prepares and develops issues pertaining to the position and rights of the customer and the patient, healt...https://stm.fi/en/department-for-clients-and-services-in-healthcare-and-social-welfare
-
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
-
Services and support for people with disabilities Persons with disabilities have the right to equality, inclusion, self-determination, independent living, non-discrimination and the necessary individual services and support. The principle is that ...https://stm.fi/en/disability-services
-
Legislation on health and social services In Finland, the state's responsibility to promote welfare, health and security is rooted in the Constitution. This enshrines the right of everyone to income and to care, if they are unable to manage adequa...https://stm.fi/en/social-and-health-services/legislation
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Child welfare Shortly The objective of child welfare is to guarantee children’s right to a safe growth environment, development and special protection. The aim is to provide support at the earliest possible stage at schools and maternity and child...https://stm.fi/en/social-services/child-welfare
-
Health services The aim of healthcare in Finland is to maintain and improve people's health, wellbeing, work ability and functional capacity and social security, as well as to reduce inequalities in health. The healthcare system is based on preven...https://stm.fi/en/health-services
-
There are six Regional State Administrative Agencies in mainland Finland. They guide and supervise public and private healthcare and social welfare.https://stm.fi/en/supervisory-authorities
-
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
-
Occupational health and safety legislation is crucial to promoting employees' physical and mental health, as well as conditions of employment.https://stm.fi/en/working-life/legislation
-
EHDS Regulation The EHDS Regulation is an EU regulation that improves citizens’ control over their personal health data and provides healthcare professionals with access to patient data, regardless of where patients live or receive treatment. The ...https://stm.fi/en/ehds-regulation
-
Current issues Press releases FinTrials to be established in Finland to boost clinical trials and investigations Type: Press release Publication date: 9.6.2026 13.32 New integration assistance to improve incentives to work and strengthen language ...https://stm.fi/en/current-issues
-
United Nations (UN) The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health takes part in shaping Finland’s UN policy with respect to social, health and gender equality affairs. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health participates in the preparation of conven...https://stm.fi/en/international-cooperation/un
-
Legislation concerning children, young people and families Family leaves Family leaves are regulated in the Employment Contracts Act. The Act contains provisions on the rights of parents to take leave for family reasons. Employment Contracts Act 5...https://stm.fi/en/children-young-people-and-families
-
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
-
Prevention of alcohol and drug related harm and addictions The aim of public authorities is to prevent and reduce the risks, harm and problems caused by the use of alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products as well as drug use and gambling. The Minist...https://stm.fi/en/substance-harm-prevention
-
Publicity of documents and requests for information Document publicity descriptions Documents produced by the authorities in the performance of their duties are public, unless special provisions on their secrecy have been laid down by law. In acco...https://stm.fi/en/publicity-of-documents-and-requests-for-information
-
Health and social services for people arriving from Ukraine On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a military attack against Ukraine. Finland is committed to helping people who have fled the war in Ukraine to Finland, also with respect to healthcare...https://stm.fi/en/health-and-social-services-for-people-arriving-from-ukraine
-
Services to families Services aimed at families support parents or other guardians in their efforts to ensure the well-being and good upbringing of children. Early childhood education and care Finnish early childhood education and care combines ed...https://stm.fi/en/services-to-families
-
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
-
Client charges in healthcare and social welfare The Government guides and directs the policy on client charges in healthcare and social welfare through legislation. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that the charges are kept at a reasonable l...https://stm.fi/en/client-fees
-
fi sv en National Mental Health Strategy 2020-2030 The National Mental Health Strategy and Suicide Prevention Agenda 2020–2030 are based on long-term preparations and broad-based collaboration. The starting point is the comprehensive approach of m...https://stm.fi/en/mental-health-policy-guidelines
-
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
-
International Labour Organization ILO ILO, the International Labour Organization, sets labour standards through conventions and recommendations, and monitors and supports its member states in their application. The Ministry of Social Affairs and H...https://stm.fi/en/international-cooperation/ilo
-
Drug policy Finland makes use of social policy, national legislation and international agreements to prevent the demand and supply of drugs reduce the harm caused by drugs ensure that people with drug problems receive treatment as early as possibl...https://stm.fi/en/drug-policy
-
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
-
Frequently asked questions concerning child welfare in Finland In Finland, child welfare services are based on the Child Welfare Act (417/2007) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Finnish Treaty Series 59–60/1991). The Child Welfare ...https://stm.fi/en/frequently-asked-questions-concerning-child-welfare-in-finland