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Frequently asked questions about the operating models and division of duties of healthcare and social welfare personnel This page contains frequently asked questions about the operating models and division of duties of healthcare and social welfar...

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...

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...

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...

Reform encourages both parents to take family leave The Family leave reform entered into force on 1 August 2022. The number of parental leave days will increase and there will be more flexibility for parents to take leave. The reform aims to incre...

Development of working life Thriving staff and work communities, together with safe work environments, form the basis for a sustainable working life and productivity. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is developing working life in accordan...

Health and social services The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health sets the guidelines for developing health and social services, drafts the relevant legislation and guides the implementation of reforms. Legislation » Legislation on social and h...

Working for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health All employment relationships in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health are public-service employment relationships. Public-service employment relationships always adhere to the Public Servan...

Preventing sexual harassment at work Sexual harassment is a major problem in terms of employment, wellbeing at work, careers and gender equality in working life. According to a survey by Statistics Finland, 54 per cent of women and 14 per cent of ...

Finances and operations This page provides information about the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s operational and financial planning, budget, performance guidance process, operating plans and financial statements. The Ministry is responsibl...

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...

According to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Decree on the prescription of medicines (1088/2010), special attention must be given to the safety of pharmaceuticals.

23.3.2026 | The sufficient Finnish or Swedish proficiency of professionals working in the healthcare and social welfare sector forms an essential part of patient safety and service quality. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is currently preparing measures to make it easier to ensure language proficiency, and to support employers in enhancing professionals’ language skills.

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...

9.10.2025 | The Government proposes amendments to child welfare legislation The aim is to strengthen children’s right to special protection, clarify the use of educational practices and restrictions and improve the opportunities for child welfare services to ensure a safe everyday life for children. 

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...

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...

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...

5.12.2025 | Country report: ECDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment for Finland, 2024 Under Article 8 of the Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 ASSESSMENT ECDC ASSESSMENT Country report: ECDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment for Finland, 20...

28.6.2024 | The Government and central labour market organisations have negotiated joint equal pay measures for the period 2024–2027. The aim of the Equal Pay Programme is to further reduce the gender pay gap. In addition to the measures set out in the Programme, there are other measures underway to reduce the pay gap.

21.5.2025 | The employment rate of registered nurses and practical nurses is high, with more than 90 per cent of graduates finding work in the social welfare and health care sector. Unemployed nurses cannot be relied on to respond to the future labour shortage in the sector. People who have sought employment in other sectors represent the most significant resource of unutilised workforce. Some relief can also be provided by pensioners for whom working is increasingly common.

23.9.2024 | As outlined in the Programme of Petteri Orpo’s Government, the Government will implement a central government productivity programme to support the Government’s objective for sustainable public finances.

5.12.2025 | 1 Classified as ECDC NORMAL Appendix 10 - Country follow-up to ECDC PHEPA recommendations Following the PHEPA mission conducted in your country, the final ECDC assessment report includes a series of recommendations aiming at supporting your countr...

13.2.2026 | Together Against Cancer – Human-Centred Cancer Prevention and Care National Cancer Strategy 2026–2035 Finland National Cancer Strategy 2026–2035 Contents Summary 3 Strategic objectives 5 Current situation and operating environment 6 Cancer in Finl...

22.9.2025 | The Finnish Government proposes EUR 14.8 billion in appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its branch of government for 2026. This is about EUR 0.5 billion less than in the 2025 Budget.

8.8.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes appropriations of EUR 14.8 billion for the Ministry and its branch of government for 2026. This is about EUR 475 million less than in the 2025 Budget. The funding of wellbeing services counties is not included in the appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its branch of government. Instead, it falls under the main title of the Ministry of Finance.

23.11.2023 | The minimum staffing level for care personnel in units providing 24-hour care for older people will rise from the current minimum level of 0.65 employees per client to 0.7 employees per client on 1 January 2028. During the transition period, the service structure will be developed and a number of measures will be taken to improve the availability of healthcare and social welfare personnel. 

23.9.2024 | The Finnish Government proposes about EUR 15.2 billion in appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its administrative branch for 2025. This is about EUR 1.1 billion less than in 2024.

10.6.2022 | Finland’s maternity clinic system celebrates its centenary this year. The system began in a renovated log cabin room of the Children’s Castle hospital in Helsinki.

20.12.2022 | The Government decided on 20 December that private healthcare providers will receive supplies of the current coronavirus booster vaccine. The decision aims to ensure that not only people at risk serious COVID-19 infection can get vaccinated.

Hallinnonalan tulossopimukset 2020-2023; tulostavoitteet 2021 Lisätietoja Mikko Staff , Talousjohtaja sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö, Strategia- ja talousyksikkö / STAR, Talousryhmä / TAR Puhelin: Sähköpostiosoite: [email protected] Piilotettu

Hallinnonalan tulossopimukset 2024-2027; tulostavoitteet 2026 Fimea tulossopimus 2026 SAMU tulossopimus 2026 STUK tulossopimus 2026 THL tulossopimus 2026 TTL tulossopimus2026.pdf Lisätietoja Mikko Staff , Talousjohtaja sosiaali- ja terveysminister...

Hallinnonalan tulossopimukset 2020-2023; tulostavoitteet 2022 Lisätietoja Mikko Staff , Talousjohtaja sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö, Strategia- ja talousyksikkö / STAR, Talousryhmä / TAR Puhelin: Sähköpostiosoite: [email protected] Piilotettu

Hallinnonalan tulossopimukset 2024-2027; tulostavoitteet 2025 Fimea - tulossopimus 2025 SAMU - tulossopimus 2025 STUK - tulossopimus 2025 THL - tulossopimus 2025 Työterveyslaitos - tulossopimus 2025 Valvira - tulossopimus 2025 Lisätietoja Mikko St...

Hallinnonalan tulossopimukset 2024-2027; tulostavoitteet 2024 AVI - tulossopimus 2024 Fimea - tulossopimus 2024 Samu - tulossopimus 2024 STUK - tulossopimus 2024 THL - tulossopimus 2024 Työterveyslaitos - tulossopimus 2024 Valvira - tulossopimus 2...

Hallinnonalan tulossopimukset 2020-2023; tulostavoitteet 2023 AVI - tulossopimus 2023 Lääkealan turvallisuus ja kehittämiskeskus - tulossopimus 2023 Säteilyturvakeskus - tulossopimus 2023 Sosiaali- ja terveysalan lupa-ja valvontavirasto - tulossop...

8.12.2021 | The Government proposes a new temporary section (48a) for the Communicable Diseases Act, under which healthcare and social welfare service providers, i.e. employers, could be required to ensure that their employees do not pose a risk of COVID-19 infection to the persons they are caring for.

24.6.2024 | C O P E N H A G E N I N S T I T U T E F O R F U T U R E S S T U D I E S Future trends & opportunities in the health and well-being sector J U N E 2 0 2 4 P E T E R A A D A L N I E L S E N The Institute at a glance P A G E 3 CIFS is an independent,...

11.2.2022 | The Government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. This means that the opening and licensing hours of all food and beverage service businesses will be extended. In addition, the restrictions on the use of the COVID-19 passport will continue until the end of February.

Strategia- ja talousyksikkö (STAR) Strategia- ja talousyksikkö avustaa ja tukee kansliapäällikköä ja vastaa ministeriön strategisen johtamisen kehittämisestä. Lisäksi yksikkö vastaa valtioneuvostotasoisten toimenpiteiden edistämisestä ja kehittämi...

Strategi- och ekonomienheten (STAR) Strategi- och ekonomienheten biträder och stöder kanslichefen och ansvarar för utvecklandet av ministeriets strategiska ledning. Enheten ansvarar också för främjande och utvecklande av åtgärder på statsrådsnivå....

Talous ja toiminta Tällä sivulla kerrotaan sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön (STM) toiminnan ja talouden suunnittelusta, talousarviosta, tulosohjauksesta, toimintasuunnitelmista ja tilinpäätöksistä. STM vastaa sosiaali- ja terveyspolitiikan valmiste...

13.3.2020 | On 13 March, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health issued practical instructions to oral healthcare providers on how to prepare for the coronavirus outbreak in their clinic activities.

Ekonomi och verksamhet Här hittar du information om social- och hälsovårdsministeriets verksamhets- och ekonomiplanering, budget, resultatstyrning, verksamhetsplaner och bokslut. Social- och hälsovårdsministeriet ansvarar för social- och hälsopoli...

17.11.2022 | On 17 November, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal for gradually increasing the minimum staffing level in 24-hour care for older people. According to the proposal, the minimum staffing level would be 0.65 employees per client as from 1 April 2023 and 0.7 employees per client as from 1 December 2023.

16.9.2020 | The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 17 September World Patient Safety Day. In Finland, patient and client safety will be made visible by organising events and lighting up landmarks in orange colour.

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.

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...

20.12.2018 | Cre-health – a social innovation to empowerment and social inclusion by culture and creative activities * * Theresia HolmstedtJensen, projectstrategist county of Dalarna dept culture and education [email protected] Suzanne Lazar, repres...

2.12.2021 | The Government recommends that workplaces in areas in the community transmission phase switch to remote work when possible. Recommendation on remote work will be in effect until further notice. The Government issued a government resolution on the matter on 2 December.

20.12.2018 | See My Art-Dalarna Art Project together with individuals whith cognitive impairs See My Art-Dalarna Workshops Proffesional Artists Exhibitions Supporting persons Network in Dalarna • Staff • Teachers • Proffesional Artists • Others Network in Swed...

26.11.2021 | The Government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The restrictions on licensing and opening hours will be tightened in areas where the epidemic is in the community transmission phase. In addition, restrictions on food and beverage service businesses will be reintroduced in the region of South Karelia.

The 11th annual Gender Equality Days (Tasa-arvopäivät) were organised on 8-9 October 2025 at the Clarion Hotel Aviapolis in Vantaa. 

2.12.2021 | The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses in community transmission areas will be introduced in the region of Central Finland and the City of Rovaniemi.

28.1.2022 | The Government has extended the validity of the decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The restrictions on the use of the COVID-19 passport will continue until mid-February and the restrictions on serving and opening hours of food and beverage service businesses will continue until the end of March. Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses will be eased for businesses serving food.

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...

25.3.2026 | Pakotelistatarkastuspalvelun tietosuojaseloste Seloste käsittelytoimista ja tuki rekisteröidyn informointiin 1 a) Yhteisrekisterinpitäjät Nimi Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö Osoite PL 33, 00023 Valtioneuvosto Muut yhteystiedot kirjaamo.stm(at)gov....

18.1.2021 | Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen, Minister of Education Jussi Saramo and the heads of central labour market organisations will meet on Tuesday 19 January to discuss equal pay. The meeting will focus on how to implement the joint Equal Pay Programme adopted in late 2020. The aim is to reduce the average pay gap between women and men faster.

9.10.2023 | The Finnish Government proposes about EUR 16.2 billion in appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its administrative branch for 2024. This is slightly over EUR 134 million more than in the 2023 Budget. The increase is due to needs assessment changes in pensions, for example, and to the implementation of reforms set out in the Government Programme.

8.6.2018 | International Talents – building a multicultural workplace. Case Tecnotree Corporation Jenni Fredriksson-Bass– 22.05.2018 22.5.2018 2 About Tecnotree ■ Tecnotree is one of the leading providers of integrated revenue and customer management (IRCM) ...