Wellbeing services counties will be responsible for organising health, social and rescue services 

The responsibility for organising healthcare, social welfare and rescue services was transferred from municipalities and joint municipal authorities to wellbeing services counties on 1 January 2023.

There are 21 wellbeing services counties, and the division into counties is mainly based on the division into regions. The region of Uusimaa is divided into four wellbeing services counties. The City of Helsinki will continue to be responsible for organising health, social and rescue services. The HUS Group will be responsible for demanding specialised healthcare duties separately laid down by law.

The wellbeing services counties were established under the reform of healthcare, social welfare and rescue services, which has been one of the most significant administrative reforms in Finnish history. The reform was necessary to ensure equal services, reduce inequalities in health and wellbeing and curb the growth in costs.

The wellbeing services counties are self-governing. Their funding is based on central government funding, and they do not, as of yet, have the right to levy taxes. Differences in the service needs of the counties are taken into account when determining funding. 

Duties of wellbeing services counties

The duties of the wellbeing services counties include:

  • Primary healthcare
  • Specialised healthcare
  • Social welfare
  • Services for children, young people and families
  • Services for working-age people
  • Mental health and substance abuse services
  • Services for persons with disabilities
  • Student welfare
  • Rescue services
  • Prehospital emergency medical services

Cooperation between the wellbeing services counties and the municipalities will focus on promoting health and wellbeing, thus reducing the need for healthcare and social welfare services. In addition, private operators along with organisations and associations will supplement public health and social services. The municipalities will remain responsible for child daycare, education, sports and culture, for example.

County elections and decision-making

Each wellbeing services county has a county council responsible for the county’s activities and finances. County councillors are elected in county elections held in each wellbeing services county. The next county elections will be held in 2029.

Each wellbeing services county also has three bodies through which residents can exert influence: youth council, council for older people, and disability council. County residents may also exert influence by submitting initiatives.

Reducing the obligations of wellbeing services counties

The obligations of the wellbeing services counties and the healthcare and social welfare actors in the government branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will be cut back in line with the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government. The aim is to curb the growth of costs in the counties. 

Based on the proposals made by counties and stakeholders, a working group consisting of state secretaries has worked towards reducing obligations and norms. Some of the measures for reducing them have already been implemented. However, some of the proposals are such that their implementation falls within the competence of the counties. The working group of state secretaries recommends that the counties adopt more flexible operating models.  

Examples of operating models falling within the competence of the counties:

Glossaries: Terminology related to wellbeing services counties

Situation picture of the wellbeing services counties

The situation picture is a summary that is based on publicly available material and used in the guidance of the wellbeing services counties.

The reporting service and the management’s strategic situation picture (in Finnish Johdon strateginen tilannekuva, JST) form the key knowledge base for the strategic steering of the counties in the Government and the counties

The service for the reporting of core information for monitoring, assessment and steering purposes (SAO) contains information contents that are essential for steering the wellbeing services counties, such as basic information on the population and information on the current state of various service packages within the service system. The service also contains up-to-date information on county finances.  

These services are available to everyone. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) develops the services as a comprehensive whole.

Updated: 11.12.2025 10.02

Further information

Minna Saario, Director General 
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare / OHO Telephone:0295163146   Email Address: