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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...

Department for Safety, Security and Health The Department for Safety, Security and Health handles issues pertaining to: organising environmental healthcare and health protection alcohol, tobacco and drug policy and the prevention of harm caused by...

Department for Insurance and Social Security The Department for Insurance and Social Security directs and steers insurance policy and is responsible for drafting social insurance and other insurance legislation. The Department handles issues that ...

Information management to support rational pharmacotherapy Information management solutions and digital services can support the safety, quality, economy and equality of pharmacotherapy and, in the long term, the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy. ...

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...

Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare The Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare is responsible for the general steering, planning and development of healthcare and social welfare in Finland. The Department for...

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 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...

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

Senior Civil Servants As the most senior public official at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Permanent Secretary directs and is responsible for the Ministry’s activities. The Under-Secretary of State assists the Permanent Secretary i...

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...

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 ...

Project on medicines and financial base of pharmacies The Government Programme includes numerous entries related to medicines and pharmacies. These entries will be implemented in a project titled ‘Medicines and the financial base of pharmacies’ in...

Social lending Shortly The wellbeing services counties grant social loans. In Helsinki, the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division is responsible for social lending. If you would like to apply for a social loan, please contact t...

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health directs, monitors and coordinates preparedness for incidents and emergencies in healthcare and social welfare.

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...

Register and information system descriptions When the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health processes personal data in the Government’s shared information systems , the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Prime Minister’s Office are join...

Electronic services support the pharmacotherapy Medication list as a tool for healthcare professionals A national up-to-date medication list is under preparation. Its benefits will be based on a procedure where all essential structural medication ...

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...

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, ...

Insurance business in Finland is subject to licence.The government grants licences to authorised pension insurance companies that manage earnings-related pension insurance.

Occupational safety and wellbeing at work Shortly The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for legislation, policies and international cooperation related to occupational safety and wellbeing at work in Finland. The aim is to ensur...

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...

Harassment or other inappropriate treatment at work Harassment or other inappropriate treatment in the workplace may harm or endanger the health of employees. Preventing harassment and other inappropriate treatment is the common responsibility of ...

Cosmetic products Cosmetic product legislation ensures that the products are safe for human health. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the general guidance, monitoring and development of operations pursuant to the Act on ...

Implementation of sensible pharmacotherapy Service organisers are responsible for ensuring that residents have access to the necessary social and health care services. It is essential for service organisers and providers to ensure the implementati...

Gender mainstreaming Gender mainstreaming is a strategy for promoting gender equality, and it means that the gender perspective is taken into account in all decision-making. The Gender Equality Unit of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health coo...

Rational, or sensible, pharmacotherapy is effective, safe, of high quality, economical and equal.

RDI Growth Programme for Health and Wellbeing The aim of the RDI Growth Programme for Health and Wellbeing is to support the wellbeing services counties in renewing themselves in order for them to better promote people’s health and wellbeing and i...

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...

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...

Mental Health at Work Programme Mental wellbeing is a success factor in working life and a driver of employment. The Mental Health at Work Programme emphasises the importance of adopting preventive measures and promoting mental health in working l...

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.

Radiation protection In Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has supreme authority in supervising compliance with the Radiation Act, and it directs the protection of the public, workers and patients from harmful radiation. The Minist...

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...

Information on cookies on the website Cookies are small text files that are saved in your browser when you visit a website. The purpose of cookies is to maintain certain user preferences (e.g. language) for a certain period of time. In this way, y...

Client and patient safety The safety of care and services is part of the overall quality of healthcare and social welfare. Safe care and services are evidence-based and effective. They are provided in the right way and at the right time. Client an...

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...

Immigrants' social security, welfare and health The MSAH is responsible for matters concerning the welfare and health of immigrants living in Finland. The Ministry deals with the basic security of immigrants, essential social and health services i...

Vera Inspection ICT System The Finnish ICT application Vera is in use in the occupational safety and health administration. In the Vera Inspection ICT System, the inspection report and other enforcement documents are compiled as structured documen...

Communications Unit of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health The Communications Unit is in charge of the internal and external information and communications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the related work with stakeholders. ...

Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health contributes to coordinating the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland, which is funded from the one-off EU recovery instrument ‘NextGenerationEU’. The Sustainabl...

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...

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...

National service reform: Reform of the content and operating methods of health and social services The service reform will reform the legislation concerning the contents of health and social services and the related guidance to correspond to the c...

Economy of Wellbeing The economy of wellbeing is a decision-making approach which enables us to achieve a better balance between the social, economic and ecological dimensions of sustainable development. It creates opportunities to increase wellbe...

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...

Frequently asked questions about the Act on Secondary Use of Health and Social Data Usein kysyttyä: The law mentions the primary and secondary use of customer data. What is the difference between these two concepts? The primary use of customer dat...

Wellbeing services counties will be responsible for organising health, social and rescue services Wellbeing services counties will be responsible for organising healthcare, social welfare and rescue services in Finland. There are 21 wellbeing serv...

Steering of wellbeing services counties The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the general guidance, direction, planning and development of healthcare and social welfare in Finland. The Ministry of the Interior, in turn, is r...

Chemical oversight Chemicals legislation prevents harm caused by chemicals Chemicals legislation prevents harm caused by chemicals to health and the environment. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the general guidance, mo...

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...

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...

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health steers and develops chemicals legislation, which also covers colourants and auxiliary ingredients used in tattoos and permanent pigmentations.

Healthcare and social welfare for undocumented persons When it comes to the organisation of healthcare and social welfare, it should be noted that there are people residing both legally and illegally in Finland who are usually referred to as undoc...

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...

Social assistance Shortly Social assistance is a last-resort form of social security that secures the essential livelihood for an individual or a family when they cannot support themselves with other income or assets. It is a means-tested benefit,...

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.

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...

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...

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...

30.6.2022 | 1 HAKEMUS VALTIONAVUSTUKSEN SAAMISEKSI SOSIAALITYÖN YLIOPISTOTASOISELLE TUTKIMUSHANKKEELLE VUODEN 2022 HAKU Hakija Hankkeen hallinnoinnista vastaava organisaatio Jyväskylän yliopisto Sähköposti (kirjaamo tai vastaava) kirjaamo(at)jyu.fi Postiosoit...

13.9.2023 | On Wednesday 13 September, the Government appointed Eija Pelkonen as Director General of the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea). Pelkonen has served as Director General of Fimea since 2018.

11.12.2023 | A project at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is working on a proposal for a well-being economy steering model for Finland that would strengthen wellbeing-oriented policymaking in Finland. A workshop, organized by THL and the OECD WISE Centre on 21–22 November 2023, brought together officials from pioneering countries to discuss the functionality and application of governance practices for a well-being framework.

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,...

15.6.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior request comments on the draft government proposal concerning the health and social services reform and the organisation of rescue services. The act would lay down provisions on, for example the organisation of rescue services, and the system of management and coordination as well as development and oversight of rescue services.

8.3.2023 | Genome strategy Content Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 3 STRATEGIC GOAL 1: Finland makes use of its unique prerequisites in re...

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.

9.5.2022 | 1 KUNNALLINEN TOIMEENTULOTUKI EHKÄISEVÄN LASTENSUOJELUN VÄLINEENÄ 1. TARKOITUS JA TAVOITTEET 1.1. Tutkimuksen lähtökohdat Mitä enemmän kunnassa on sosiaalisissa riskitilanteissa eläviä kansalaisia (kuten työttömiä, matalasti koulutettuja ja epävak...

9.5.2022 | 1 Research plan / Tutkimussuunnitelma Evidencing the Effectiveness of Health Social Work Assessment and Interventions Terveyssosiaalityön arvioinnin ja intervention vaikuttavuus näkyväksi (Sostyö-TerVa) 1. Aim and objectives 1.1 Significance of re...

20.12.2018 | City of Malmo culture, social work and inclusion God day! I am very glad to be here today to present a practical example on culture as a tool for social inclusion and more specifcally with immigrants. But first I would like to present myself Ivana...

5.6.2020 | The Government has finalised the policy outlines for the health and social services reform, on the basis of which preparations for the reform will continue. The aim is to circulate the draft bills on the restructuring of health and social services for comments in June.

7.2.2023 | 0(41) LÄÄKEHOIDON OHJAUKSEN KEHITTÄMINEN Selvityshenkilön raportti Sinikka Rajaniemi Tiivistelmä Lääkehoitoa ja lääkehuollon toimintaa tulee kehittää kokonaisuuksina. Lääkehoidon optimoinnin viitekehyksenä tulee olla sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon ...

3.9.2015 | August 2015 GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA PILOT ASSESSMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 2 You may re-use the text of this document (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this ...

19.12.2018 | Nordic Future of Work Conference The Future of Work and new Forms of Work from the Global and the Nordic Perspectives Helsinki 1 Nordic Future of Work Conference I The Future of Work and new Forms of Work from the Global and the Nordic Perspective...

10.12.2018 | Nordic Future of Work Conference The Future of Work and new Forms of Work from the Global and the Nordic Perspectives Helsinki 1 Nordic Future of Work Conference I The Future of Work and new Forms of Work from the Global and the Nordic Perspective...

29.11.2019 | The President of the Republic has appointed Outi Antila as Director General of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). She will take up the position on 1 January 2020, when the current Director General of Kela, Elli Aaltonen, will retire.

5.1.2018 | Veli-Mikko Niemi is the new Director of the International Affairs Unit.

10.12.2020 | In its talks on 9 December, the Government discussed different scenarios concerning the development of the COVID-19 epidemic. The three scenarios drawn up for use by the Government examine possible paths of development of the epidemic and their economic and social impacts. The timeline of the scenarios extends from December 2020 until the end of June 2021.

11.1.2016 | GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA ASSESSMENT OF UKRAINE November 2-6, 2015 1 | P a g e Global Health Security Agenda GHSA External Country Assessment of Ukraine November 2-6, 2015 Executive Summary The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) is an effort...

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...

3.9.2015 | GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA PILOT ASSESSMENT OF UGANDA FEBRUARY 16 – 20, 2015 1 | P a g e Global Health Security Agenda EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Global Health Security Agenda Pilot Assessment of Uganda February 16 – 20, 2015 The Global Health Security ...

3.9.2015 | GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA PILOT ASSESSMENT OF PORTUGAL April 12 to 17, 2015 Global Health Security Agenda Pilot Assessment of Portugal, Final report 22.6.2015 ____________________________________________________________________________________...

23.2.2022 | Ansiotyön ja sosiaaliturvan yhteensovittaminen Sosiaaliturvakomitean ongelmaraportti SOSIAALITURVAKOMITEAN JULKAISUJA 2022:2 Ansiotyön ja sosiaaliturvan yhteensovittaminen Sosiaaliturvakomitean ongelmaraportti Sosiaaliturvakomitean työllisyyden ja...

12.3.2018 | SELVITYS KEINOISTA LÄÄKKEENMÄÄRÄÄMISEN JÄRKEVÖITTÄMISEKSI VIIDESSÄ ESIMERKKIMAASSA Proviisori Katrimari Kiviluoto 30.4.2016 SISÄLLYSLUETTELO KÄYTETYT LYHENTEET 1 TAUSTA .................................................................................

21.12.2016 | On 21 December, the Government published a draft of the legislation detailing how customers will be able to select from among the health and social services that are within the scope of freedom of choice. The legislation aims to ensure that freedom of choice will increase the customer's possibilities of exerting influence, speed up access to services as well as improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of services.

3.9.2015 | GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA PILOT ASSESSMENT OF GEORGIA JANUARY 11 TO 16, 2015 1 | P a g e Global Health Security Agenda Preamble The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) is an effort by nations, international organizations, and civil society to...

2.12.2016 | Urbanisation will continue, and health and social services will probably be increasingly concentrated in growth centres. To prevent regional differences from escalating, service solutions must be customised by region. Services in smaller communities can be guaranteed by leveraging new service concepts and with regional cooperation. Centralisation of hospital services will improve productivity and save on costs.

8.6.2018 | MEE Policies for Growth An Agenda for Sustainable Growth Pekka Lindroos Hanasaari 23.5.2018 6.6.2018Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment • www.tem.fi 2 In the next ten years Finland must grow nearly twice as fast as Sweden to bridge the gap...