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Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s principles of a safer space The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health adheres to the principles of a safer space. The safer space principles refer to common practices and approaches that aim to make a space ...

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

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.

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.]

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

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. 

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...

The principle of organising prenatal screening tests to find out whether the pregnancy is developing normally is that all pregnant women are offered voluntary, free-of-charge, uniform and high-quality screening tests and, when necessary, further tests on an equal basis.

HPV vaccinations By a decision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the HPV vaccine has been included in the national vaccination programme (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Decree 410/2013). The HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer ...

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health guides, directs and develops legislation on occupational healthcare.

The mission of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is to safeguard people’s functional capacity, livelihoods and services so that we can live in a stable, equitable and sustainable society.

International Labour Organization ILO ILO, the International Labour Organization, sets labour standards through conventions and recommendations, and monitors and supports its member states in their application. The Ministry of Social Affairs and H...

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...

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...

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...

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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...

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...

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. ...

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...

fi sv en National neurocenter Neurocenter Finland accelerates collaboration in neuroscience Neurocenter Finland maintains comprehensive and up-to-date information on research projects, infrastructures, methods, materials and innovations in the fie...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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...

Social security reform Social security will be reformed during the ongoing parliamentary term through government projects and the work of the Social Security Committee. The aim of the social security reform is to make the social security system sm...

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

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 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 ...

Palvelureformilla uudistetaan sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon sisältöjä koskeva lainsäädäntö sekä siihen liittyvä ohjaus vastaamaan nykyisiä sote-rakenteita ja valtakunnallisia sote-tavoitteita. Palvelureformi toteuttaa pääministeri Petteri Orpon hallitusohjelmaa. Valmistelusta vastaa sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö.

Occupational accidents and occupational diseases The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for developing and preparing the legislation concerning insurance against occupational accidents and diseases. The workers’ compensation insu...

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...

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...

General social security benefit The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is preparing a general social security benefit. The benefit would include a basic allowance for living, an allowance for housing costs and a discretionary allowance as last-...

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...

Kansallinen ikäohjelma vuoteen 2030 Tavoitteena ikäkyvykäs Suomi Periaatepäätös Valtioneuvosto, Helsinki 2022 Valtioneuvosto This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohi...

18.2.2026 | 1 Joint conference statement Roma and Sinti Women in the Public Sphere: Turning Voices into Change 3 December 2025 I. Core values of equality and human rights We, the participants of the multi-country conference “Roma and Sinti Women in the Public...

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...

22.10.2025 | The gender pay gap has narrowed slowly in Finland. A new research project will produce, for the first time, an extensive long-term economic analysis of the factors that have contributed to the changes in the pay gap. 

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...

7.3.2025 | The promotion of gender equality, women’s rights and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people is facing strong opposition around the world. The situation causes concern, but Finland’s policy is clear: we defend gender equality and continue to work towards achieving equality between women, men and people belonging to gender minorities together with the other Nordic countries, civil society and our other partners.

14.3.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health held a stakeholder event on 11 March to discuss the pandemic treaty that is currently being negotiated under the World Health Organization (WHO). The aim of the treaty is to strengthen international preparedness for pandemics and other public health emergencies. 

22.5.2025 | JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ May 22, 2025 Lviv, Ukraine On behalf of the participants of the Second Ministerial Social Policy Summit, we reaffirm our shared commitment to supporting Ukraine and Moldova on their path towards joining the European Union. We firm...

Nationellt åldersprogram fram till 2030 För ett ålderskunnigt Finland Principbeslut Statsrådet, Helsingfors 2022 Statsrådet This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohib...

15.2.2023 | 1(5) 15.2.2023 VN/4124/2023 SOSIAALI- JA TERVEYSMINISTERIÖ Meritullinkatu 8, Helsinki | PL 33, 00023 Valtioneuvosto | 0295 16001, stm.fi, @STM_Uutiset _____________________________________________________________________________________ Vastuullis...

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...

4.5.2023 | Eturauhassyövän seulonnan arviointia Kansallisen syöpäseulontojen ohjausryhmän nimeämän asiantuntijaryhmän raportti TYÖRYHMÄ Anssi Auvinen (epidemiologian professori, Tampereen yliopisto, työryhmän pj.), Peter Boström (urologian professori, Turun ...

4.5.2023 | Eturauhassyövän seulonnan arviointia Kansallisen syöpäseulontojen ohjausryhmän nimeämän asiantuntijaryhmän raportti TYÖRYHMÄ Anssi Auvinen (epidemiologian professori, Tampereen yliopisto, työryhmän pj.), Peter Boström (urologian professori, Turun ...

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...

22.2.2022 | Sosiaaliturvan valinnat ja perusperiaatteet Sosiaaliturvakomitean raportti SOSIAALITURVAKOMITEAN JULKAISUJA 2022:5 Sosiaaliturvan valinnat ja perusperiaatteet Sosiaaliturvakomitean raportti Sosiaaliturvakomitean tutkimus- ja arviointijaosto Sosiaa...

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...

12.8.2024 | 28.03.2024 1 (3) Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Meritullinkatu 8, Helsinki | P.O. Box 33, FI-00023 Government, Finland 0295 16001 | stm.fi/en | @MSAH_News Anonymisation and anonymity of image and signal data in processing under the Act on t...

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.

10.12.2024 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Timeout Foundation are hosting a series of 25 Timeout dialogues to discuss the future of social security. The aim is to increase public debate on social security, strengthen dialogue between various parties, increase citizens’ participation in the social security reform, and produce information to support decision-making.

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...

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.

10.1.2023 | Different ways of organising social security have been examined as part of the preparation of the social security reform. The report on alternative ways of organising social security, which was made by a working group consisting of researchers and experts, was published on Tuesday 10 January 2023.

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

2.2.2023 | Finland has implemented tripartite Equal Pay Programmes for four government terms, but the need for them has not gone away. The pay gap between women and men has narrowed slowly. This information comes from an overall assessment of the Equal Pay Programme that was published today.

1.2.2023 | The National Genome Strategy responds to the challenges of a rapidly changing operating environment. The strategy brings together actions to utilise genomic data for the benefit of citizens’ health.

4.5.2025 | Koronaviruspandemia ja sosiaalityö – glokaalit haasteet ja ratkaisut Tutkimussuunnitelma 13.11.2020 PANDA-tutkimusryhmä Prof. Timo Harrikari Lapin yliopisto 2 1. TUTKIMUSHANKKEEN TARKOITUS JA TAVOITTEET ...............................................

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.

10.11.2023 | MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH AND THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE OF REPUBLIC OF FINLAND AND THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE OF REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA CONCERNING PROMOTING ELECTRONIC ...

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.

9.5.2022 | 1 Vuoden 2021 yliopistotasoisen sosiaalityön tutkimuksen hankehaku 17.5.2021 Taloussosiaalityö lapsiperheissä Lapsiperheiden talousosaamisen ja taloudellisen toimintakyvyn vahvistaminen taloussosiaalityön intervention avulla Dosentti Mia Hakovirta...

10.2.2022 | The national strategy for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing has been updated. The aim is to identify the causes of severe respiratory infections and to prevent the spread of infections particularly among groups of people who have a high risk of developing a more serious form of the disease.

Vid screening av fosteravvikelser, dvs. fosterscreening, är principen att gravida kvinnor på lika grunder erbjuds frivilliga, avgiftsfria, enhetliga och högklassiga screeningundersökningar och vid behov fortsatta undersökningar.

Finlands program för hållbar tillväxt Finlands program för hållbar tillväxt stöder en ekologiskt, socialt och ekonomiskt hållbar tillväxt i enlighet med målen i regeringsprogrammet. Programmet främjar konkurrenskraft, investeringar, en höjning av ...

Andra ansökningsomgången Den andra ansökningsomgången för statsunderstöd för Finlands program för hållbar tillväxt ordnades 1.9 – 6.10.2022. Den 8 december 2022 beviljade social- och hälsovårdsministeriet cirka 255 miljoner euro i statsunderstöd f...

14.12.2023 | The Government supports the Commission’s proposal to extend the scope of the proposal for a Directive establishing the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities to include third-country nationals who are legally residing in the territory of an EU Member State. Today, the Government submitted a Union communication on the matter to Parliament.

10.6.2022 | Finland’s maternity clinic system celebrates its centenary this year. The system began in a renovated log cabin room of the Children’s Castle hospital in Helsinki.

Femte ansökan om statsunderstöd Statsunderstöd inom programmet för hållbar tillväxt utlyste för femte gången mellan den 4 september och den 4 oktober 2024. Statsunderstödet utlystes för två separata helheter: Stöd för ungas psykiska hälsa i arbets...

10.5.2021 | On 10 May 2021, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health made the decision to discontinue the nationwide tiers of COVID-19 prevention measures. Going forward, COVID-19 prevention in Finland will focus on regional restrictions and recommendations.

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). 

12.10.2020 | Work may not compromise the health and safety of employees. There is no ambiguity in this respect. However, it is a challenging objective to reach in a rapidly changing world of work.

Första ansökningsomgången Den första utlysningen av statsunderstöd för Finlands program för hållbar tillväxt avslutades den 18 februari 2022. Den 25 april 2022 beviljade social- och hälsovårdsministeriet cirka 34 miljoner euro i statsunderstöd för...

22.12.2020 | On 22 December, the Finnish Government issued a decree on vaccinations, which is needed to deploy the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Finland. The programme will use vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 that have been granted marketing authorisation in the European Union. It will be deployed once vaccines arrive in Finland. The decree will enter into force on 23 December 2020. Vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary.

Fjärde ansökan om statsunderstöd Den fjärde ansökningsomgången av statsunderstöd inom program för hållbar tillväxt är från den 9 januari till den 15 februari 2024. År 2022 beviljade social- och hälsovårdsministeriet statsunderstöd för regionala ut...

Världshälsoorganisationen WHO Världshälsoorganisationen WHO (World Health Organization) är Finlands viktigaste internationella samarbetspartner när det gäller utvecklingen och bedömningen av hälsopolitiken. Finland deltar aktivt i den globala häls...

15.5.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has issued a circular to the Regional State Administrative Agencies on how to implement the guidelines of the relevant government resolution at public events and gatherings. The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Institute for Health and Welfare have prepared general guidelines on indoor and outdoor events.

Statsunderstöd till forskning Utlysningen av statsunderstöd för Finlands program för hållbar tillväxt för att stärka forskningen som förbättrar social- och hälsovårdssystemets kostnadseffektivitet och tjänsternas kvalitet ordnades 1.9.2023–13.10.2...

Funktionshinderservice och stödåtgärder Personer med funktionsnedsättning har rätt att bli behandlade på lika villkor som andra, att vara delaktiga, att själva bestämma om sitt liv, att leva ett självständigt liv, att inte bli diskriminerade och a...

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.  

EU:s fjärde åtgärdsprogram EU4Health på hälsoområdet De allmänna målen för EU:s fjärde åtgärdsprogram på hälsoområdet (EU4Health) för åren 2021–2027 följer principen ”one health”: Förbättra och främja EU-medborgarnas hälsa och minska bördan av smi...

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.

Finansiering och understöd Social- och hälsovårdsministeriet beviljar understöd bland annat gör utveckling av social- och hälsovården, hälsofrämjande verksamhet och andra projekt inom ministeriets ansvarsområde. Bland annat offentliga organisation...

Internationellt jämställdhetssamarbete Främjande av jämställdhet inom EU Inom EU främjas jämställdheten med hjälp av lagstiftning och jämställdhetspolitik. Främjande av jämställdhet mellan kvinnor och män och undanröjande av bristande jämställdhet...

9.4.2020 | Finland’s COVID-19 testing strategy is based on the principle of test – trace contacts – and treat. This strategy was adopted for tracing infections at the start of the epidemic. At the same time, our central aim has been to increase the testing capacity.

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...

28.5.2020 | I have launched a reform of the Act on Social Assistance and appointed a working group to carry it out. Now is the right time for reform. We have been gathering experiences from the transfer of basic social assistance to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) over the past few years. In doing so, we have found several areas that need fixing.

Social- och hälsovårdsservicen för personer som flytt från Ukraina Den 24 februari inledde Ryssland en militär invasion av Ukraina. Finland har förbundit sig att hjälpa de som flyr kriget också genom att erbjuda dem social- och hälsovård. Myndighe...

5.11.2020 | The number and incidence of coronavirus cases have risen again compared to the past few weeks. While the national epidemiological situation has remained fairly stable for several weeks now, there are considerable regional differences. Getting tested is the key to curbing the spread of coronavirus.

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.

20.12.2018 | V. Langbakk, EIGE In Quest for Sustainable Europe; the Economy of Wellbeing, Global, European and Nordic Solutions Economic growth and gender equality go hand in hand We looked at the Gender Equality Index in a broader context to explore the conne...

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.

10.12.2021 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has updated the national strategy for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. The principles for testing are still to detect infections quickly, curb the spread of infections among the population and protect particularly people who are at an increased risk of contracting a severe case of COVID-19.

I samband med reformen av lagstiftningen om yrkesutbildade personer inom social- och hälsovården upphävs 17 § i förordningen om yrkesutbildade personer inom social- och hälsovården (564/1994).

17.12.2021 | The Social Security Committee has identified the main problem areas of the current social security system and issues now 18 positions for reforming the system.

30.10.2018 | The 70th Session of the Nordic Council starts this week in Oslo and its agenda includes various topics, such as culture, environment, sustainable development, international cooperation, and other matters relating to the current challenges facing our welfare states.

3.7.2023 | Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency Helsinki PO Box 66 (Opastinsilta 12 B) FI-00521 Helsinki Tampere Yliopistonkatu 38 FI-33100 Tampere Rovaniemi Valtakatu 2 FI-96100 Rovaniemi Switchboard / Tel. +358 29 505 2000 www.tukes.fi [email protected] Bus...