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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...

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 ...

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

10.10.2025 | The digital therapies experiment launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has proceeded to the pilot phase. The experiment brings together public-sector and private-sector operators to test how digital solutions fit into the daily operations of healthcare services. Of 24 applications, ten digital therapy solutions were selected for the experiment.

The MSAH is responsible for preparing legislation on occupational safety and health care, and policy development on occupational safety and health and wellbeing at work.

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...

Amended legislation on health checks for children and young adults Type: Press release Categories: Publication date: 22.12.2025 Request for comments: Legislative amendment would extend right of small alcohol producers to sell their products direct...

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...

For the media Media contacts Vivikka Richt, Director of Communications Unit, tel. +358 295 163 396 Annette Rinne, Head of Communications, tel. +358 295 163 316 Communications Unit personnel and contact informatio n Please direct all media inquirie...

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 ...

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.]

“You rarely get such a close view of how decisions are communicated” Neea Hassinen worked as a communications intern at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, where she developed online communications and contributed to current affairs communi...

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. ...

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 status and rights of clients and patients The status and rights of patients and social welfare clients are protected by: the Act on the Status and Rights of Patients 785/1992 (Finlex) the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients ...

“I’m always looking for ways to improve how we work together by making better use of digitalisation and data” Teija Inkilä’s work combines digital services, evidence-based decision-making, artificial intelligence and collaboration between authorit...

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...

Finnish social security system The Finnish social security system includes benefits and support that protect people’s livelihoods, as well as the provision of health and social services and employment services. Social security provides income secu...

Buresbirgenguovllut Buresbirgenguovllut Buresbirgenguovllut (buresveadjinguovllut) gárttas Sosiála- ja dearvvašvuođa fuolahusa vuogádat ja ovddasvástádusat SDM stivre buresbirgenguovlluid sode-bálvalusaid lágideamis Sosiála- ja dearvvašvuođa fuola...

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...

“Opportunities to build something new this hands-on in central government are rare” Laura Kuusio works on advancing Finland’s national Child Strategy and the European Child Guarantee. What matters most to her is strengthening the participation of ...

Prevention of human trafficking The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health aims to prevent social problems caused by trafficking in human beings and to identify and help victims. The Ministry’s responsibilities include ensuring that victims of traf...

nordic cooperation

“I see myself as a kind of democracy warrior” Liisa Siika‑aho works as Director General at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in the Department for Insurance and Social Security. Her work revolves around creative problem‑solving and support...

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...

fi sv en Personalised medicine creates preconditions for more effective treatment Personalised medicine promotes the health and wellbeing of individuals by utilising research, new technologies and a wider range of information resources. The aim is...

Disability policy promotes equality Disability policy is made up of society’s actions and policies that ensure equal opportunities, rights and services in Finland for persons with disabilities. What are the principles of Finland’s disability polic...

Advisory Board on Biotechnology The Advisory Board on Biotechnology is an expert body providing advice on matters related to biotechnology and gene technology. It promotes cooperation between public authorities and researchers and operators in the...

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.

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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

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 ...

The Committee for Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (NAPE) is the coordination body required under the Council of Europe Convention (Finnish Treaty Series 53/2015, the so‑called Istanbul Convention), responsible for the coordination, monitoring and impact assessment of the measures necessary for the Convention’s implementation. [This is a machine translation, we do not guarantee the quality and accuracy of the translations produced.]

The Advisory Board for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the national coordinating mechanism for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Its function is to promote national implementation of the Convention and to take into account the rights of persons with disabilities in all aspects of government. The Board operates under Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. It consi...

19.5.2026 | Commitment to measures to eradicate sexual harassment at work We, the undersigned key actors in Finnish working life, recognise that sexual harassment is a major problem in working life and it must be addressed actively and through concrete action...

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...

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...

In accordance with the Government Programme of Prime Minister Orpo's Government, solving the shortage of personnel threatening the availability of services in the welfare society requires both short-term and long-term measures. The Good Work Programme will be launched to ensure the sufficiency and availability of personnel in the health, social services and rescue services sectors.

Value chain for pharmacotherapy Pharmaceuticals-related development, research and innovations The facilitation of research and development of pharmaceuticals is a requirement for new pharmaceutical innovations. It is characteristic of the pharmace...

25.11.2025 | Finland will publish its new national Action Plan for the Istanbul Convention on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The objective of the Istanbul Convention is to ensure that every girl and woman has a future without violence. Finland’s new action plan, covering the years 2026–2033, outlines several long-term objectives and lists altogether 37 practical measures.

6.6.2025 | ​​​​​​​The Baltic Pride Conference, taking place in Vilnius on 6 June, will discuss the inclusion and rights of LGBTI people. The event will be opened by State Secretary Laura Rissanen as part of Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

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.

26.1.2022 | Children and young people can now vote on their peers’ ideas on how to strengthen the rights of the child. The call for ideas for children and young people was part of the implementation of Finland’s first National Child Strategy. The patron of the campaign is Mrs Jenni Haukio, spouse of the President of the Republic.

5.6.2020 | In accordance with the principles of the Social Security Committee, all those involved in the Committee’s work must have at their disposal the same information about social security. This places the preparation and decision-making processes related to the reform on an equal footing. We want also other people to be able to monitor and assess the preparation and decision-making concerning the reform on the basis of the same information.

28.9.2020 | Children, young people and adults are invited to participate in preparing the National Child Strategy. The strategy is being drawn up by a parliamentary committee representing the various parliamentary groups, and will be completed by the end of 2020.

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...

31.10.2025 | Healthcare and social welfare 2040 vision Views and proposals of Ministry of Social Affairs and Health officials regarding needs for changes to the healthcare and social welfare service system Permanent Secretary Veli-Mikko Niemi In “Healthcare an...

7.2.2024 | Finland is currently participating in the 62nd session of the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD62) that is held in New York. The Finnish delegation is led by Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso.

23.11.2023 | The healthcare fee for students in higher education will be EUR 73.60 and the late-payment fee EUR 5 in 2024. The fee charged for an unattended appointment will be EUR 56.70, i.e. the same as in other health and social services.

21.12.2023 | Finland’s communicable diseases legislation is being reformed in 2023–2025. During the reform, a number of thematic workshops will be organised to give the key stakeholders an opportunity to express their views. The first workshop was held on 18 December under the theme business activities and employment.

11.1.2022 | The Government has amended the decree that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. From now on, all food and beverage services businesses must close at 18.00. In addition, the restrictions on the use of the COVID-19 passport will be extended until the end of January. The decree on the opening hours of food and beverage service businesses will enter into force on 12 January 2022 at 00.00 and it will remain in force until 31 January 2022.

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.

8.5.2025 | The series of social security dialogues held by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Timeout Foundation brought out a wide variety of views and development suggestions from citizens on the future of social security. The outcomes of the dialogues will be presented at a webinar on 15 May 2025.

22.12.2021 | The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As from 24 December 2021, the use of the COVID-19 passport will be restricted for about three weeks. The restrictions on food and beverage services businesses that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be introduced in the region of North Savo, while restrictions will be lifted for the Åland Islands.

14.9.2023 | World Patient Safety Day is celebrated every year on 17 September. The World Health Organization (WHO) chose “Engaging patients for patient safety” as this year’s theme. In Finland, the day is called Client and Patient Safety Day.

7.9.2023 | The Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen was held in Kyiv on 6 September 2023 on the invitation of Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine. The summit also brought together health ministers from EU Member States and WHO European Region who signed a statement at the event. 

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.

23.6.2022 | Tuore asetus jatkaa EU:n koronatodistusten myöntämistä yhdellä vuodella 30.6.2023 saakka. Tarkoituksena on varmistaa vapaa liikkuvuus EU-alueella, vaikka koronatilanne jatkossa huonontuisi. Matkalle lähtiessä täytyy edelleen varmistaa, vaatiiko kohdemaa matkustajilta koronatodistusta maahan saapuessa tai palveluita käytettäessä.

23.6.2022 | Genom EU:s nya förordning förlängs användningen av EU:s digitala covidintyg med ett år till den 30 juni 2023. Avsikten är att garantera fri rörlighet inom EU även om coronaläget skulle bli sämre. Resenärer måste fortfarande ta reda på om det land dit de reser kräver covidintyg för att komma in i landet eller för att använda tjänster.

23.6.2022 | The EU has extended the regulation on the EU Digital COVID Certificate by one year until 30 June 2023. The regulation will ensure free movement in the EU even if the COVID-19 situation deteriorates in the future. All travellers should still check beforehand whether their country of destination requires the certificate upon arrival or for using services.

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...

7.9.2023 | Ukrainan presidentin puolison Olena Zelenskan kutsusta Kiovassa järjestettiin presidenttien puolisoiden kolmas huippukokous 6.9.2023. Huippukokoukseen kokoontui myös EU-maiden ja WHO:n Euroopan alueen maiden terveysministereitä, jotka allekirjoittivat tilaisuudessa julkilausuman.

31.1.2022 | Helmikuusta 2022 lähtien EU:n koronarokotustodistukset hyväksytään matkustuskäytössä vain yhdeksän kuukauden ajan eli 270 päivää perussarjan viimeisen rokotteen saamisen jälkeen. Kolmannen rokotteen jälkeen ei todistuksen voimassaoloa toistaiseksi rajoiteta.

31.3.2022 | Matkustuskäyttöön tarkoitetut EU:n koronarokotustodistukset ovat jatkossa toistaiseksi voimassa alle 18-vuotiailla, jotka ovat saaneet koko perusrokotussarjan eli tyypillisesti kaksi rokoteannosta. Täysi-ikäisten rokotustodistukset vanhenevat 270 päivän (noin yhdeksän kuukauden) päästä perusrokotussarjan viimeisen rokotteen saamisen jälkeen. Kolmannen rokotteen jälkeen rokotustodistuksen voimassaoloa ei toistaiseksi rajoiteta.

31.3.2022 | EU-vaccinationsintyg för resor ska gälla tills vidare för personer under 18 år som fått grundvaccinationen, det vill säga i allmänhet två vaccindoser. Myndiga personers vaccinationsintyg föråldras efter 270 dagar (ca 9 månader) efter det sista vaccinet i grundvaccinationen. Tills vidare begränsas inte giltighetstiden för vaccinationsintyget efter den tredje vaccindosen.

31.3.2022 | In future, EU COVID-19 vaccination certificates used for travel purposes will remain valid until further notice for those under the age of 18 who have completed the full primary vaccination series (usually two doses). COVID-19 vaccination certificates for adults expire when 270 days, i.e. about nine months, have passed from the last dose of the primary vaccination series. As of yet, no acceptance period applies to certificates issued following the administration of booster doses.

31.1.2022 | Från ingången av februari 2022 godkänns EU:s covidintyg i fråga om vaccinationerna endast under 9 månader vid resor, dvs. i 270 dagar efter att man fått det sista vaccinet i grundserien. Tills vidare begränsar man inte giltighetstiden för intyget efter den tredje vaccindosen.

31.1.2022 | From February 2022 onwards, EU COVID-19 vaccination certificates will be accepted for travel purposes for a period of nine months since the administration of the last dose of the primary vaccination series. As of yet, no acceptance period will apply to certificates issued following the administration of booster doses.

7.9.2023 | Det tredje toppmötet för första damer och herrar ordnades i Kiev den 6 september 2023 på inbjudan av Ukrainas presidents maka Olena Zelenska. Vid toppmötet sammanträdde också hälsoministrar från EU-länderna och Världshälsoorganisationens medlemsländer i Europa. Ministrarna undertecknade ett gemensamt uttalande i samband med mötet.

7.4.2022 | There are still no signs of the COVID-19 epidemic abating in Finland. The total number of patients in specialised healthcare and primary healthcare has remained high since the turn of 2021–2022. Vaccinations continue to provide effective protection against the more serious forms of the disease. It is essential that people take measures to prevent the spread of infections.

3.10.2022 | Saturday night on 25 June got off to a good start in Oslo. It was the Pride Festival. It was the day before the Pride Parade.

22.6.2022 | On 22 June, the Ministerial Working Group on COVID-19 received an epidemiological review as well as an overview of the updated vaccination strategy and testing and tracing strategy.

24.2.2022 | The Government has on repealed section 3, subsection 3 and sections 4 and 6 of the decree (1223/2021) that restricts the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. This means that the restrictions on the opening and alcohol serving hours as well as restrictions on the number of customers and customer seats in restaurants will be lifted.

30.11.2023 | The EU health ministers will meet in Brussels on Thursday 30 November 2023. The ministers will exchange views on safeguarding the EU’s open strategic autonomy in the field of health, particularly on how to ensure the availability of medicines in Europe. They will also approve conclusions on mental health. Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

1.4.2022 | On 1 April, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides, who is currently visiting Finland, will meet with Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Aki Lindén. During the day, they will pay a visit to the Helsinki Reception Centre in Punavuori and the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa.

8.12.2021 | The Nordic Welfare Forum will be held on 8–9 December 2021 as part of Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021. The Forum is one of the main events in the health and social sector during Finland’s Presidency.

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...

22.12.2023 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on the recommendation for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality. The basis for successful rehabilitation is that people feel they are heard, the doctor-patient relationship works well and people receive individual support.

4.12.2018 | At the Slush side event, public sector stakeholders and established companies in the field of health technology will present concrete examples of projects that the healthcare sector wants to carry out with start-ups in future.

27.2.2024 | Tutkimussuunnitelma / Kataja Ulkomaalaistaustaiset päihdepalvelujen asiakkaina. Kohti yhdenvertaisempaa saavutettavuutta ja vaikuttavuutta, (USVa) 1. Tutkimuksen tarkoitus ja tavoitteet 1.1. Tutkimushankkeen merkitys suhteessa nykytietämykseen sek...

30.11.2023 | Suomen kestävän kasvun ohjelman valtionavustukset STM:n hallinnonalalla 26.4.2022 • Rahoitus tulee EU:n kertaluonteisesta elpymisvälineestä (Next Generation EU). • Suomen elpymis- ja palautumissuunnitelma on osa Suomen kestävän kasvun ohjelmaa. • ...

Hallituksen esitys eduskunnalle laeiksi sähköisestä lääkemääräyksestä annetun lain ja sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon asiakastietojen käsittelystä annetun lain 102 §:n muuttamisesta ESITYKSEN PÄÄASIALLINEN SISÄLTÖ Esityksessä ehdotetaan muutettavaks...

21.9.2021 | The Government has submitted to Parliament a proposal on the nationwide use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, or the COVID-19 passport. It is proposed that the provisions on the EU Digital COVID Certificate be added to the Communicable Diseases Act.

21.9.2021 | The Government has submitted to Parliament a proposal on the nationwide use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, or the COVID-19 passport. It is proposed that the provisions on the EU Digital COVID Certificate be added to the Communicable Diseases Act.

20.2.2020 | Committee work brings facts and contradictions into the open. Specifying different perspectives and values serves as a model even for other societal discussions.

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...

20.5.2021 | In Finland, the COVID-19 situation deteriorated very quickly in some areas, also at local level, between 10 and 16 May. Despite this, the number of new cases was about 70 per cent lower than between 8 and 14 March when the number of cases was at its highest.

6.9.2024 | 15 April 2024 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health policy on international and EU cooperation for 2024–2027 The policies of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on international and EU coopera- tion for 2024–2027 guide the Ministry and its a...

17.9.2020 | The Social Security Committee, which started work in spring 2020, will first determine which social security problems it will seek to solve. Before the summer holidays, the Committee outlined four sets of key social security problems: 1) the complexity of social security; 2) combining employment and social security; 3) minimum social security, basic social security and housing; and 4) coordination of services and benefits.

8.7.2021 | A total of 1,282 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Finland between 28 June and 4 July. During the previous week the corresponding figure was around 960. The number of new cases has doubled compared to the preceding two-week period: during the past two weeks, the number of new cases totalled 2,240, while in the preceding two-week period, it was 1,093. The weekly number of COVID-19 cases was at its lowest in week 24 (between 14 and 20 June), totalling around 530.

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.

4.9.2020 | In recent weeks, there has been discussion about whether a full communicable disease allowance should be paid to people who may have been exposed to coronavirus because of their own actions. This type of situation may occur, for example, when people travel to countries where the coronavirus situation is worse than in Finland or when people attend public events.  

5.1.2022 | The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Restrictions on food and beverage service businesses that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be introduced in Åland.

16.12.2021 | 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 food and beverage services businesses that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be introduced in the whole of Lapland and the Hospital District of South Savo.

3.12.2021 | 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 that are necessary to prevent the spread of the epidemic will be introduced in Åland.