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Urgent and emergency health services Wellbeing services counties must organise 24-hour services for dealing with urgent cases. Patients can receive urgent care at urgent care centres irrespective of their place of residence. Urgent cases include c...

Hospitals and specialised medical care Specialized medical services, including various specialist examinations and treatments, are primarily provided in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and emergency departments. Access to specialised healthcare is ...

Private providers of health and social services Private providers of health and social services, in other words companies, organisations and foundations, already account for about 22 per cent of the whole health and social services sector. They op...

11.9.2025 | The Government is proposing to Parliament a legislative amendment that would oblige the wellbeing services counties to prepare for the use and threat of military force. The amendment concerns the Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services, and it aims to ensure close cooperation between the wellbeing services counties and the Finnish Defence Forces in both normal and emergency conditions.

17.6.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on a draft government proposal to amend the Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services. The aim is to clarify the obligation of wellbeing services counties to prepare for the use or threat of military force. The consultation period is open from 17 June to 23 July 2025.

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...

6.9.2024 | On 6 September 2024, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health gave an account of the further preparation of the reform concerning the system of hospitals and emergency care services and the division of duties in specialised healthcare. The Ministry also gave an account of the more than 100 (around 140) comments that were received on the reform.

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 ...

Healthcare and social welfare for illegal residents Illegal residents mean persons who have no right of residence in Finland according to the Aliens Act. An asylum seeker’s residence in Finland is considered unauthorised when a decision to reject ...

Social services The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for Finland’s social policy and prepares legislation on social welfare. Social welfare covers promoting social security and wellbeing and taking care of social welfare duties...

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, ...

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...

COVID-19 disease in Finland Shortly Since July 2023, COVID-19 has been classified as a monitored communicable disease instead of a generally hazardous communicable disease. Vaccinations continue to be the most important way to protect against seri...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Fighting infectious disease: Responsibilities of the authorities The task of healthcare and social welfare services is to safeguard that the population has the healthcare and social welfare services essential to their health and functional capacit...

Private providers of health and social services, in other words companies, organisations and foundations, already account for about 22 per cent of the whole health and social services sector. They operate in both publicly and privately funded markets.

The WHO Pandemic Agreement aims to strengthen international preparedness for pandemics and other public health emergencies.

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...

Legislation on termination on pregnancy

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...

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...

18.2.2026 | According to a report by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the gap between wellbeing services counties’ operations and finances widened in 2025. This trend is also expected to continue in the coming years. The underlying reasons include population ageing, an increase in service needs and uneven regional migration.

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...

6.5.2020 | How can palliative care and terminal care be strengthened so that the final phase of life is as good as possible? We have been working on this in the working group for several months now.

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...

11.5.2020 | The COVID-19 epidemic has shown us in practice how important the rights of children are under emergency conditions. Over the past few months, the rights of children have been considerably restricted around the world. Restrictions have been placed on education, social relations and physical activities. At the same time, the rights of children to security, basic care, play and leisure time have also been reduced in practice.

Hallituksen esitys eduskunnalle laiksi terveydenhuoltolain muuttamisesta sekä siihen liittyviksi laeiksi ESITYKSEN PÄÄASIALLINEN SISÄLTÖ Esityksessä ehdotetaan muutettaviksi terveydenhuoltolakia toistaiseksi ja väliaikaisesti sosiaalihuoltolakia j...

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. 

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...

22.12.2021 | The Government has issued a resolution on the adoption of the national emergency brake mechanism. In managing the COVID-19 epidemic, Finland has returned to extensive restrictions and recommendations which are guided by national legislation. 

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.

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...

3.4.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health emphasises that, even under emergency conditions, mu-nicipalities must ensure social welfare and healthcare clients’ right to have access to services based on their individual needs. The right applies to all groups of people equally, including people with disabilities. The same principle applies to intensive care.

19.12.2024 | The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services concerning preparedness, readiness and incident management in both normal and emergency conditions. The proposal is based on the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government.

16.4.2024 | The Government reached an agreement on the future of the network of hospitals and urgent and emergency health services in its spending limits session. It decided that changes would be made to night-time emergency care services in primary healthcare and to specialised healthcare in certain hospitals. The aim is to balance public expenditure and respond to the shortage of healthcare personnel.

23.9.2024 | The two memorandums published on 23 September 2024 assess the combined impacts of the changes to income security that the Government is preparing or implementing for the years 2024–2025.

9.5.2022 | Tutkimussuunnitelma HYVÄÄ JÄLKEÄ – JÄLKIHUOLTO SIIRTYMÄNÄ JA AIKUISTUMISEN TUKENA UUDISTUVASSA PALVELUJÄRJESTELMÄSSÄ Hyvää jälkeä -hanke on Tampereen yliopiston, Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulun ja SOS-Lapsikylän tutkimus- ja kehittämishanke. Hankkeess...

27.2.2024 | Tutkimussuunnitelma Teemu Rantanen / 1 Vuoden 2023 yliopistotasoisen tutkimuksen hankehaku Tutkimussuunnitelma MONITOIMIJAINEN SOSIAALITYÖ VANKILASTA VAPAUTUVAN TUKENA DIGITALISOITUVASSA YHTEISKUNNASSA (VAPAA) 1 TARKOITUS JA TAVOITTEET 1.1 Tutkimu...

4.5.2025 | Koronaviruspandemia ja sosiaalityö – Globaalit haasteet ja rat- kaisut (PANDA) VN25259/2020 Loppuraportti 2023 2 Sisällysluettelo 1. TUTKIMUSHANKKEEN TARKOITUS JA TAVOITTEET ............................................................................

Regeringens proposition till riksdagen med förslag till lag om ändring av hälso- och sjukvårdslagen och till lagar som har samband med den PROPOSITIONENS HUVUDSAKLIGA INNEHÅLL I denna proposition föreslås det att hälso- och sjukvårdslagen ändras t...

2.6.2023 | SUOMEN SÄÄDÖSKOKOELMAN SOPIMUS SARJA Julkaistu Helsingissä 31 päivänä toukokuuta 2016 (Suomen säädöskokoelman n:o 398/2016) Valtioneuvoston asetus 27/2016 vammaisten henkilöiden oikeuksista tehdyn yleissopimuksen ja sen valinnaisen pöytäkir- jan v...

29.4.2021 | The number of new COVID-19 cases continues to decline, which indicates that the epidemic is currently winding down in Finland. The restrictions and recommendations have clearly been effective and prevented infections. As the spring progresses, vaccinations and seasonal variation will begin to contribute to the positive development of the epidemic. The fact that people have complied with the recommendations and restrictions in a commendable manner has also helped ease the epidemic.

11.3.2021 | Finland recorded nearly 4,400 new cases of COVID-19 between 1 and 7 March, which is the highest number since the epidemic started. The situation is now particularly difficult in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa and the Hospital District of Southwest Finland. The need for hospital care has continued to increase almost throughout the country.

20.12.2023 | Additional common EU reserves will be established in Finland. The new reserves will contain supplies such as medicines, medical supplies and medical devices, and they are part of the rescEU project. Finland has received a total of EUR 305 million in funding from the European Commission for the establishment of the reserves

5.6.2020 | On 5 June, the Government published its policy on the reform of rescue services. The Government proposes that the responsibility for organising rescue services would rest with health and social services counties and the City of Helsinki. Rescue services would continue to be a separate sector working in parallel with the healthcare and social welfare sector.

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.

11.10.2022 | Report of the working group on the use of iodine in the event of a radiation hazard situation STM 2022 Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................

8.12.2020 | According to the government proposal, the wellbeing services counties and the City of Helsinki would be responsible for organising rescue services in their respective areas starting at the beginning of 2023. Contract fire brigades could be used to provide these services as at present. The role of central government guidance and direction in rescue services would be strengthened.

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.

2.2.2021 | The Global Risks Report  of the World Economic Forum includes extreme weather and climate action failure, infectious diseases and digital inequality in the list of world’s greatest threats in 2021. These issues also directly impact occupational safety and health (OSH). 

5.3.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for ensuring that Finland is prepared for both unexpected and gradually emerging situations that affect, or may affect, healthcare and social welfare services one way or another.

23.6.2021 | Eduskunta hyväksyi hallituksen esityksen hyvinvointialueiden perustamisesta sekä sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon ja pelastustoimen järjestämisen uudistamisesta 23. kesäkuuta. Hyvinvointialueet perustetaan mahdollisimman pian lakien hyväksymisen ja vahvistamisen jälkeen. Lait tulevat voimaan porrastetusti, osa 1. heinäkuuta 2021 ja viimeiset 1. tammikuuta 2023.

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...

30.6.2022 | 1 Kohti tutkimusperustaista osallisuuden edistämistä nuorten aikuisten sosiaali- työssä (NuoriSO) Vastuututkija: Henna Pirskanen (Lapin yliopisto), muut toteuttajatahot: Sanni Tiitinen (Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu), Maija Mänttäri-van der Kuip (...

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.

29.12.2020 | Form approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health REFERRAL FOR OBSERVATION Form M1 For a person recommended for involuntary psychiatric hospital treatment 1. Personal data of the person examined Surname Previous surnames Address Identific...

5.6.2020 | Reform of health, social and rescue services Policy outlines of the Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru Press conference on 5 June 2020 About the reform • Reduce inequ...

30.6.2022 | 1 Vuoden 2022 yliopistotasoisen tutkimuksen hankehaku Hankkeen johtaja: Suvi Raitakari ([email protected]) Hankkeen valmistellut tutkimusryhmä: Kirsi Juhila, Tuula Tuominen, Anne Saarijärvi ja Arto Rautajoki Hankkeen toteutuspaikat: Tampereen...

31.5.2018 | A working group, appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, proposes a road map for ending the use of tobacco and other nicotine products in Finland by 2030. It would mean that less than 5% of the adult population use tobacco and nicotine products daily. Reaching this goal, recorded in the Tobacco Act, requires that the future governments monitor and assess tobacco policy and develop new measures.

28.4.2020 | For the time being, the Finnish healthcare and social welfare system has been able to withstand the pressure caused by the coronavirus epidemic, says Kirsi Varhila, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Varhila provided an account of the current coronavirus situation to the Social Affairs and Health Committee of the Finnish Parliament on 28 April.

9.10.2020 | A People-centred Perspective on Employment Barriers and Policies FACES OF JOBLESSNESS IN FINLAND 2  This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of interna...

20.12.2018 | SEEKING AND SEIZING – THE NORDIC WAY NOVEMBER 2-3, 2017, HELSINKI BY PEER HULL KRISTENSEN (WITH KARI LILJA AND ELI MOEN) Civilizing business enterprises in the search for a new Nordic growth and development model Civilizing and de-civilizing busin...

10.12.2018 | Economy and Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries A Selection of Good Nordic Practices This fact sheet focuses on one of the most challenging areas of gender equality in the Nordic countries: economy and gender. The Nordic countries score high o...

19.12.2018 | Economy and Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries A Selection of Good Nordic Practices This fact sheet focuses on one of the most challenging areas of gender equality in the Nordic countries: economy and gender. The Nordic countries score high o...

24.6.2021 | People in designing work and the working environment A handbook for the proactive planning of work and design of working environments 2People in designing work and the working environment Version 1.3 June | 2021 People in designing work and the wo...

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...

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...

2.6.2023 | FINLANDS FÖRFATTNINGSSAMLINGS FÖRDRAGSSERIE Utgiven i Helsingfors den 31 maj 2016 (Finlands författningssamlings nr 398/2016) Statsrådets förordning 27/2016 om sättande i kraft av konventionen om rättigheter för personer med funktionsnedsätt- ning...

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...

16.4.2020 | Loss of income would be compensated when a parent remains unpaid at home to care for their children during the epidemic. Loss of income would also be compensated in situations where a person has been directed to quarantine-like conditions upon return from abroad to Finland.

21.12.2021 | In its negotiations on Tuesday 21 December, the Government discussed the COVID-19 situation and decided on new restrictions and other necessary measures. In addition to increasing vaccination coverage, effective national and regional measures to limit close contacts are needed to slow down the spread of the epidemic. This will allow more time for giving people third vaccine doses.

3.9.2015 | GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA PILOT ASSESSMENT OF PERU January 26 to 30, 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 ac...

23.9.2015 | 1 SEOUL DECLARATION GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA 2015 HIGH-LEVEL MEETING IN SEOUL We, the ministers gathered on September 9, 2015, at the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) High-Level Meeting in Seoul, commit ourselves to work toward strengthen...

3.9.2015 | WHY? Infectious disease epidemics pose not only a local health threat but also an international health security threat. National multisectoral cooperation and preparedness are at the core of combating infectious diseases effectively through streng...

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...

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 | 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 ...

13.12.2018 | The Government is proposing a new Act on Client Charges in Health and Social Services that would apply to health and social services organised by counties. In future, only service charges provided by the Act on Client Charges in Health and Social Services could be collected from clients.

20.12.2018 | Sakari Hänninen The Relational Nordic Welfare State Seeking and seizing – the Nordic Way? 2 – 3 November 2017 The Nordic welfare states have been a success story Available welfare indicators reflect this story, e.g. about Finland Finland is the be...

29.12.2016 | The 24-hour system of health and social services will be reformed. Larger units will be created for the provision of specialised medical care. Some examinations, procedures and treatments will be centralised at the national and regional levels. The aim of the reform is to secure equal access to services, sufficient skills in the units providing care as well as client and patient safety, and to curb cost increases. The aim is also to improve access to urgent care.

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 ____________________________________________________________________________________...

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.

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.

30.11.2016 | The ministerial working group on migration discussed an action plan on the prevention and control of illegal residence in the country. The plan has been prepared as a collaborative effort of various ministries and it focuses on the illegal residence in the country of people who have received a negative asylum decision.

22.12.2016 | On 21 December, the Government published a bill concerning the customer's freedom of choice with regard to social and health services, as well as the changes made to the Government's draft proposal on the health, social services and regional government reform after it has been circulated for comments. The legislative package concerning provision of health and social services will go to Parliament...

19.12.2018 | The Nordic region is doing well Open and Innovative Nordic Countries – Equal Opportunities to Welfare, Education, Culture and Work (“Norden 2020”) The priority project (2016 – 2018) of the Finnish presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2016...

2.6.2022 | Regeringens proposition till riksdagen med förslag till lag om temporär ändring av lagen om smittsamma sjukdomar PROPOSITIONENS HUVUDSAKLIGA INNEHÅLL I denna proposition föreslås det att lagen om smittsamma sjukdomar ändras temporärt. Det fö- resl...