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Gender Equality Act promotes gender equality and prohibits gender-based discrimination In Finland, the Act on Equality between Women and Men, or the Gender Equality Act, lays down obligations to promote gender equality. The Ministry of Social Affa...

Amended legislation on health checks for children and young adults Categories: Publication date: 22.12.2025 The timing and content of health checks at child health clinics and schools, and in student healthcare and oral healthcare will be regulate...

19.12.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a draft government proposal that would extend the right of small alcohol producers to sell their products for takeaway. In future, a larger number of domestic alcohol producers could sell alcoholic beverages produced by them directly to consumers at production premises. Comments on the draft proposal can be submitted between 19 December 2025 and 13 February 2026.

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.

The Government appointed a parliamentary monitoring group to support the legislative drafting project launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health to lay down the principles for the national choice of effective services and methods. [This is a machine translation, we do not guarantee the quality and accuracy of the translations produced.]

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...

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.

Provisions will be laid down on the principles according to which the inclusion of services and methods in the range of services and their removal will be implemented in public healthcare and social welfare. The possibility of enacting provisions on a national actor who can make a binding decision on the inclusion of the method in the range of public services will be investigated.

Sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon valvonnasta annettua lakia muutetaan lain jälkiarvioinnin perusteella tarpeellisiksi katsotuilta osin

The Ministry as a workplace In the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, your work has a significant impact on society and it affects the lives of everyone living in Finland. You will participate in building a socially sustainable Finland, where ...

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...

13.7.2023 | The Government Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo contains a number of entries on legislation related to the mandate of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The entries concern, for example, the organisation of healthcare and social welfare services, benefits and pensions.

The large-scale interim evaluation of the wellbeing services county reform aims to assess the achievement of the reform objectives in 2025 in relation to the objectives laid down in legislation. The evaluation will be carried out on the basis of the implementation in 2023–2025 and by examining the preconditions for achieving the long-term objectives of the reform.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is preparing regulation on service choices in both healthcare and social welfare.

Petteri Orpon hallituksen ohjelman mukaisesti sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon ammattihenkilölainsäädännön kokonaisuudistus toteutetaan osana Hyvän työn ohjelmaa. Uudistus toteutetaan tavalla, jossa ammattioikeuksiin kytketään vain asiakas- ja potilasturvallisuuden kannalta välttämättömät ja oikeasuhtaiset edellytykset.

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...

Lastensuojelulainsäädäntö uudistetaan pääministeri Petteri Orpon hallituksen ohjelman mukaisesti. Tällä hallituksen esityksellä toteutetaan lastensuojelulainsäädännön uudistamisen toinen vaihe.

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...

Welfare and health promotion The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health supports the welfare of people in Finland via social and health services and by ensuring income security. Legislation » Many areas of health legislation enhance welfare...

Department for Work and Gender Equality The Department for Work and Gender Equality (TTO) guides and directs the supervision and administration of occupational safety and health, drafts legislation and policies on occupational safety and health, a...

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 from the municipalities and joint municipal authorities of mainland Finland and other parties mentioned in the request for comments. The deadline for submitting comments is 25 September 2020.

The Government of Prime Minister Sanna Marin will implement the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme. The programme will develop primary health and social services: their availability will be improved and the services will be coordinated to meet people’s needs

Insurance The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for developing and drafting the legislation on statutory insurance, insurance companies and pension institutions. The goal is a sustainable social security and private insurance, b...

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...

Amending the Act on the Secondary Use of Health and Social Data The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is preparing a government proposal for amending the Act on the Secondary Use of Health and Social Data (555/2019). The Act will be amended in...

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 ...

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 ...

European Union: social, health and gender equality issues The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is in charge of its own sectoral matters in the EU in terms of preparation, follow-up, defining Finland’s standpoint, drafting EU legislation and i...

29.10.2020 | Law-drafting is a multi-stage process, which requires a wide range of professional competences and cooperation between multiple instances. In the Covid-19 situation, this work has been performed across ministries and in cooperation with agencies and research institution experts as well as practical actors.

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...

Sote-uudistuksen johtoryhmän tehtävänä on johtaa uudistuksen virkavalmistelua ja koordinoida valmistelutyötä.

Earnings-related pension Earnings-related pension is paid to a person who has accrued pension according to his or her earnings either in an employment relationship or as an entrepreneur. The size of the earnings-related pension is determined accor...

Hankkeen tarkoituksena on toteuttaa EU:n eurooppalaista terveysdata-avaruusasetusta (EHDS) täydentävä sääntely sosiaali- ja terveystietojen toissijaisesta käytöstä annettuun lakiin (toisiolaki, 552/2019) ja eräisiin muihin lakeihin.

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.

Appealing income security decisions The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health does not process requests for a review, objections or complaints. Instead, it drafts legislation on appeal boards and this way ensures the legal protection of people whe...

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...

Lastensuojelun jälkihuollon ikäraja lasketaan hallitusohjelman mukaisesti 23 vuoteen. Samalla täsmennetään sijoitetun lapsen varhaiskasvatuksen järjestämisvelvollisuutta ja säädetään tästä aiheutuvien kustannusten korvaamisesta . Lisäksi korjataan eräitä sote-uudistuksen myötä lastensuojelulakiin jääneitä teknisluonteisia virheitä.

The Child Strategy is Finland’s national long-term plan for strengthening the wellbeing and rights of children, young people and families with children.

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 ...

Government branch The administrative branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health includes several independent institutions and agencies, which implement the ministry’s objectives in society and participate in Government Programme projects....

Toteutetaan pääministeri Petteri Orpon hallitusohjelmakirjaukset apteekkitalouden kokonaisuudistuksesta. Uudistuksella tavoitellaan 30 miljoonan euron vuosittaisia säästöjä julkiseen talouteen.

Petteri Orpon hallituksen ohjelman mukaisesti sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon ammattihenkilölainsäädännön kokonaisuudistus toteutetaan osana Hyvän työn ohjelmaa. Uudistus toteutetaan tavalla, jossa ammattioikeuksiin kytketään vain asiakas- ja potilasturvallisuuden kannalta välttämättömät ja oikeasuhtaiset edellytykset.

Esityksessä ehdotetaan täydennettäväksi vammaispalvelulain soveltamisalapykälää siten, että siihen lisätään uusi elämänvaiheita koskeva säännös. Tarkoituksena on auttaa arvioimaan, milloin eri elämänvaiheissa olevan henkilön avun ja tuen tarpeeseen tulee vastata vammaispalvelulain mukaisilla palveluilla.

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...

Hallitus selvittää Uudenmaan, pääkaupunkiseudun tai Helsingin alueen erillisratkaisun yhteistyössä alueen kaupunkien ja kuntien kanssa vuoden 2019 loppuun mennessä. Työskentelyä varten nimitetään erillisselvityksen ohjausryhmä sekä seurantaryhmä. Ryhmien jäsenet näkyvissä asettamispäätöksessä (löytyy asiakirjaliitteistä).

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...

Uudistetaan sosiaalihuollon lainsäädäntöä siten, että lisätään hyvinvointialueiden mahdollisuuksia järjestää ja organisoida palvelut nykyistä joustavammin ja asiakaslähtöisemmin alueelliset erityispiirteet ja asiakkaiden yksilölliset tarpeet huomioiden.

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...

Unemployment security In brief Unemployment security consists of a general social security benefit and an earnings-related unemployment allowance. In order to be eligible for unemployment security, you must register with the employment authority a...

Pääministeri Orpon hallituksen hallitusohjelmakirjauksen mukaan hallitus selvittää mahdollisuuksia parantaa lapsen asemaa vaikeissa erotilanteissa ja oikeusprosessissa. Hallituksen julkisen talouden suunnitelmaan on kirjattu, että elatustukea uudistetaan tarkistamalla elatustuen tasoa säännöllisin väliajoin vanhempien tulotietojen perusteella.

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...

7.4.2021 | A pilot strengthening the inclusion of children and young people in drafting the Child Welfare Act will be carried out when implementing the National Child Strategy. The pilot aims to create a model for consulting children and young people in legislative work. 

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...

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...

Hallituksen esityksessä ehdotetaan parannettavaksi psykiatrisen hoidon tahdosta riippumattoman lääkityksen oikeussuojakeinoja koskevaa sääntelyä ja siten potilaan oikeusturvaa.

21.10.2020 | A summary of comments received on the draft government proposal on the organisation of health, social and rescue services is published. Respondents welcome the objectives of the reform and agree on its necessity.

Hallituksen esitykseen kootaan sote-uudistuksesta johtuvat muuhun lainsäädäntöön tehtävät tekniset muutokset.

13.10.2020 | The Ministerial Working Group on Health and Social Services has reviewed the comments received during the consultation round, organised from 15 June to 25 September, on the health and social services reform and outlined policies and made changes to the draft government proposal. The draft bill will be submitted to the Finnish Council of Regulatory Impact Analysis (FCRIA) on 14 October 2020. The Government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament in early December 2020.

Esityksellä vahvistettaisiin perustason palveluiden vastuulle kuuluvaa lasten ja nuorten mielenterveysongelmien ehkäisyä ja hoitoa. Lainsäädännöllä täydennettäisiin hoitoon ja palveluihin pääsyä koskevaa sääntelyä terveydenhuollossa lasten ja nuorten mielenterveyden hoidon- sekä sosiaalihuollossa mielenterveystyön palveluiden osalta.

Siirretään ns. vapaaehtoisten mielenterveys- ja päihdepalvelujen sääntely mielenterveyslaista ja päihdehuoltolaista sosiaalihuoltolakiin ja terveydenhuoltolakiin. Samalla pyritään parantamaan kyseisten palvelujen saatavuutta, saavutettavuutta, vaikuttavuutta ja palvelujen kokonaisuutta.

Sosiaali- ja terveystietojen toissijaisesta käytöstä annettua lakia (toisiolaki, 552/2019) korjataan hallitusohjelman mukaisesti.

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.

Opiskeluterveydenhuollon ja puolustusvoimien ennakkoterveystarkastus yhdistettäisiin ja erillisestä kutsuntatarkastuksesta luovuttaisiin. Täysi-ikäisten opiskelijoiden terveystarkastus muutettaisiin tarveperusteiseksi. Neuvolan, kouluterveydenhuollon ja ehkäisevän suun terveydenhuollon terveystarkastuksia koskevan sääntelyn päivittäminen.

Pääministeri Petteri Orpon hallitusohjelman mukaan hallitus toteuttaa perusturvan uudistuksen, joka parantaa työnteon kannattavuutta, sujuvoittaa sosiaaliturvaa ja yksinkertaistaa etuuksia sosiaaliturvakomitean välimietinnön tekemät suositukset ja selvitykset huomioiden. Uudistuksen tavoitteena on aikaansaada yksi yleistuki.

22.10.2020 | A summary of comments received on the draft government proposal on the organisation of health, social and rescue services is published. It collates the main comments received during the consultation round on the draft government proposal. Respondents welcome the objectives of the reform and agree on its necessity.

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...

Pääministeri Orpon hallituksen ohjelman mukaisesti uudistetaan sairaaloiden ja päivystyksen kansallista kokonaisuutta ja erikoissairaanhoidon työnjakoa.

Pääministeri Orpon hallituksen hallitusohjelmakirjauksen hallitus toteuttaa toimeentulotuen kokonaisuudistuksen, joka vähentää pitkäaikaista toimeentulotukiriippuvuutta ja selkiyttää toimeentulotuen roolia viimesijaisena harkintaa vaativana perusturvaan kuuluvana rahaetuutena.

17.12.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a draft government proposal that seeks to prevent intentional misuse of social welfare benefits, reduce incorrect social welfare payments and promote information exchange with the Social Insurance Institution (Kela). Statements may be submitted until 28 January 2026.

Pääministeri Petteri Orpon hallituksen ohjelman mukaan hallitus käynnistää kiireellisesti lainvalmistelun, jonka tarkoituksena on turvata vammaisten oikeuksien toteutuminen ja palveluiden saatavuus.

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...

Esityksessä ehdotetaan säädettäväksi uusi vammaispalvelulaki. Ehdotettava vammaispalvelulaki sisältäisi säännökset vammaisille henkilöille järjestettävistä sosiaalihuollon erityispalveluista. Laki täydentäisi sosiaalihuollon palveluita koskevana yleislakina sovellettavaa sosiaalihuoltolakia.

3.11.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a draft new act on healthcare and social welfare units that assist in investigating suspected offences involving children. The aim is to make the child-friendly Barnahus model a permanent part of the investigation of suspected offences involving children. Comments can be submitted between 3 November and 15 December.

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...

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.

17.12.2021 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on a draft government proposal according to which the nationwide use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, i.e. the COVID-19 passport, would also be possible by law when there are no restrictions in force.

Esityksessä ehdotetaan säädettäväksi uuden hallintotason, hyvinvointialueiden, perustamisen ja toiminnan kannalta keskeiset lait: laki hyvinvointialueesta, laki sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon järjestämisestä, laki pelastustoimen järjestämisestä, Uusimaa-laki, niiden yhteinen voimaanpanolaki, hyvinvointialueiden rahoituslaki sekä eräät muutoslait.

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...

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...

2.12.2019 | “To ensure girls’ and women’s active and equal participation in society, the right laws and legal frameworks need to be in place.” Thomas Blomqvist, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality, said in his speech at the reception of the International Gender Equality Prize award ceremony on 2nd December 2019 in Tampere, Finland.

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...

9.5.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on a draft government proposal concerning the general social security benefit by 19 June 2025. This is the first stage of the extensive social security reform where different basic social security benefits will be gradually combined into a single general social security benefit.

28.12.2023 | The aim is to accelerate and streamline the administration of vaccines and to alleviate the shortage of healthcare personnel. The amendments that are being circulated for comments would allow dentists, senior pharmacists, pharmacists, practical nurses and biomedical laboratory scientists to administer vaccines. The amendments would also make it easier to organise vaccination at pharmacies’ health service points.

16.5.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on the comprehensive reform of the Social Assistance Act by 27 June 2025. The amendments to the Act would strengthen, for example, the obligations of recipients to apply for primary benefits and full-time work. The aim is to reinforce the role of social assistance as a last-resort and temporary form of assistance and to strengthen general government finances.

31.8.2021 | An independent working group of experts examined regulatory needs concerning good end-of-life care, patients' right to self-determination, and terminal care and euthanasia. The working group has now completed its final report and submitted it to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

30.9.2022 | Various parties are currently reviewing the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization is preparing a new pandemic treaty to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. On 28 September, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health arranged a meeting for stakeholders to discuss the treaty negotiations.

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

14.5.2020 | It is considered justified to develop a mobile application for supporting the tracing of transmission chains of the coronavirus. This becomes evident from the comments that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health invited on its proposal for a roadmap for the introduction of a mobile application.

8.9.2023 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on a draft bill that proposes amendments to the Act on General Housing Allowance. The proposed amendments would concern lowering the reimbursement rate of the allowance, tightening the effect of the income that affects the allowance, and abolishing the earned income allowance and the support for owner-occupied housing.

17.1.2022 | The Social Security Committee started its preparations for a social security reform by identifying problems in the current social security system and by describing its choices and basic principles. The results of this work are now published in five reports compiled by the committee’s five divisions. 

30.6.2020 | The decisions on discretionary government transfers for projects included in the Future Health and Social Services Centres programme and for projects supporting the restructuring of health and social services have been made.

3.7.2023 | 1 (4) Decision (Draft) 30.6.2023 VN/20729/2023 VN/20729/2023-STM-2 Postiosoite Käyntiosoite Puhelin Faksi s-posti, internet Postadress Besöksadress Telefon Fax e-post, internet Postal Address Office Telephone Fax e-mail, internet Sosiaali- ja terv...

26.10.2020 | As part of the preparation of the health and social services reform, an exercise will be carried out to establish cooperation between the central government and the future wellbeing services counties. This will be done during the negotiations designed to provide the counties with guidance and direction. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will hold the negotiations with the counties between 27 October and 4 December.

26.3.2024 | Finland’s social security reform aims to streamline and simplify the social security system and to introduce more incentives for work. During this parliamentary term, the social security reform will include both government projects and the work of the Social Security Committee.

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.

29.12.2022 | The status and the right to services of victims of human trafficking will improve as the help provided through the Assistance System will no longer depend on the progress of the criminal proceedings related to human trafficking. Primarily, assistance will be based on an assessment of the victim’s individual situation. The President of the Republic approved the related legislative amendments on 29 December and they will enter into force on 1 January.

7.5.2020 | The Social Security Committee has started its first and perhaps most important task: defining the problems to be solved by the social security reform.

18.1.2023 | The revised EU Drinking Water Directive has been implemented in Finnish national legislation through statutory amendments that took effect on 12 January 2023. These amendments concern a wide range of laws and regulations. The main goal of the reform is to safeguard the quality of water intended for human consumption and to provide more information on water quality.

4.12.2017 | The Equality Act – Promoting gender equality and preventing discrimination The Equality Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender, gender identity and gender expression and obliges to promote gender equality. The Equality Act applies as ...

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...