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9.1.2026 | Radical Health Festival, Europe’s leading health sector event, will take place in Helsinki from 19 to 21 January 2026, offering an international setting for leading health sector experts to discuss how to leverage artificial intelligence and data in healthcare. The event will gather professionals, decision-makers and businesses in the field to accelerate renewal in health and social services.

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.

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...

9.3.2026 | EU ministers will convene for a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Brussels on 9 March. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Wille Rydman will represent Finland at the meeting.

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...

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...

nordic cooperation

Income security A central feature of welfare and social security is to provide support to people in vulnerable situations. Legislation » Legislation concerning income security. Finnish social security system » The Finnish social security system in...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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 Ministry's social media sites are maintained by the Communications Unit. When necessary, we moderate discussions and delete any illegal or inappropriate comments. We do not comment on individual cases on social media or provide advice for different life situations.

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...

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...

health security

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

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...

6.3.2026 | The 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place in New York from 9 to 19 March 2026. Finland will be represented at the session by a broad-based delegation led by Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, who is responsible for gender equality issues.

26.8.2021 | Globaali pandemiatilanne 25.8.2021 https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/situation-updates/ EU/ETA-maiden tilanne Viikot 31-32 Tapaukset Rokotukset EURO_COVID19_Dashboard - PUBLIC Kuolemat 1. Annos 63,4 % 2. annos 54,8 % 260 000 6 000 • Ilmoitett...

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...

29.12.2021 | Regional State Administrative Agencies decide the restrictions on public events and customer premises in their respective areas of operation.

11.2.2021 | Maailmanlaajuisesti yli 105 miljoonaa tapausta ja yli 2,5 miljoonaa tautiin menehtynyttä https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/geographical-distribution-2019-ncov-cases https://covid19.who.int/ 2 EU-maiden tilanne – 14 vrk ilmaantuvuus – viikot 1-2 ja 3-4...

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...

10.12.2025 | An independent group of experts has conducted a broad-based interim evaluation of the wellbeing services county reform, which was published on 10 December. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso, Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen and Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen consider the findings valuable.

29.10.2018 | Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö on päättänyt hankkia hyvinvointisovelluksen kolmelta toteuttajalta. Toteuttajat voittivat ministeriön järjestämän suunnittelukilpailun. Kilpailussa haettiin uusia terveys- ja hyvinvointisovelluksia, jotka sopivat liitettäviksi Omakannan Omatietovarantoon.

4.11.2025 | The Second UN World Summit for Social Development will be organised on 4–6 2025 November in Doha, Qatar. The summit will strengthen the global commitment to social development. Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen will represent Finland at the summit.

3.9.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is preparing a national model and indicators for knowledge-based management to support research, development, education, innovation and competence development in the wellbeing services counties. An open online event will be held this autumn to provide all stakeholders with an opportunity to join in the preparation of the knowledge-based management model.

6.10.2025 | Preparedness and data-driven decision-making in the field of pharmaceuticals were the key topics of discussion at a conference organised by Finland in Helsinki on 30 September–1 October 2025 as part of its Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

21.4.2021 | Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö EU:n 1+ Million Genomes -yhteistyöaloitteen Suomen toiminnan käynnistäminen Seminaariraportti Kuvailulehti 15.3.2021 EU:n 1+ Million Genomes -yhteistyöaloitteen Suomen toiminnan käynnistäminen Seminaariraportti Julka...

11.6.2025 | The Nordic ministers for health and social affairs and the Nordic and Baltic ministers for digitalisation have issued a joint declaration on artificial intelligence (AI) and the rights of persons with disabilities. 

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.

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. 

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...

7.3.2025 | 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.

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.

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.

11.12.2023 | 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.

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.

12.1.2024 | The European Commission has adopted the EU4Health work programme for 2024. The programme aims to deliver the key priorities of EU health policy as part of the European Health Union. 

1.12.2023 | The International Health Organization WHO has stated that climate change is the single biggest threat facing humanity in the 21st century. According to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC, approximately 3.6 billion people live in contexts that are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

26.4.2023 | Finland is participating in the drafting of a new global pandemic treaty. Finland’s goal is for the treaty to improve global health security. However, Finland stresses the responsibility of states for their own health security and related preparedness.

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.

7.11.2023 | Matti Väliahdet from Rovaniemi, Christopher Gullmans from Espoo and Janne Saarela from Seinäjoki were today awarded the Father of the Year prize. The prize was presented to the winners by Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

31.1.2023 | A working group appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes measures to end the use of tobacco and nicotine products in Finland by 2030. The group submitted its report to State Secretary Eila Mäkipää on Tuesday, 31 January 2023.

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.

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 .............................................................................................................................

5.12.2022 | The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing a new international pandemic treaty to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The aim is for the treaty to be ready in May 2024. The third meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to discuss the treaty will be held in Geneva on 5–7 December.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2.6.2022 | The term of the group responsible for the situational picture and modelling of the COVID-19 epidemic ends in June 2022. The situational assessment report, published every other week, has monitored the development of the epidemic and the measures taken to curb the epidemic, but it will be put on hold for now. The question of what practices may need to be adopted in the autumn will be addressed later.

1.12.2023 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has published a strategy for digitalisation and information management in healthcare and social welfare.

16.9.2020 | The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 17 September World Patient Safety Day. In Finland, patient and client safety will be made visible by organising events and lighting up landmarks in orange colour.

17.1.2023 | The European Commission is funding the EU’s first chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear strategic reserve in Finland, under rescEU, which includes personal protective equipment, measuring equipment, pharmaceuticals and antibodies in Finland for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear accidents.

5.1.2022 | The Government has amended the decree on temporary restrictions to the use of the COVID-19 passport referred to in section 58i of the Communicable Diseases Act. The COVID-19 passport cannot be used as an alternative to regional restrictions on public events and customer premises in Åland.

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.

30.12.2021 | The Government has issued a decree amending section 58i of the Communicable Diseases Act to temporarily restrict the use of the COVID-19 passport. The COVID-19 passport cannot be used as an alternative to regional restrictions on public events and customer premises in the hospital districts of East Savo and North Karelia.

28.12.2021 | The Government has adopted a decree on temporary restrictions to the use of the COVID-19 passport referred to in section 58 i § of the Communicable Diseases Act.

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. 

7.1.2022 | In its first meeting on Friday 7 January, the ministerial working group on COVID-19 was briefed on the epidemiological situation, the spread of the Omicron variant, the burden on and capacity of the healthcare system, and the progress of vaccinations.

25.7.2017 | In May 2017, a two-day event focusing on gender equality was organised for Roma women and men as part of the project Building a Roma Platform financed by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the EU.

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.

29.12.2020 | 1 (5) Form approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health OBSERVATION STATEMENT Form M2 (Please fill in using the language of the form) For a person recommended for involuntary psychiatric hospital treatment 1. Personal data of the person e...

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.

4.9.2017 | Finland participated in the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Singapore and presented its activities in preventing work-related cancer.

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.

8.12.2021 | Facilitating the employment of persons with disabilities will be the focus of a virtual Nordic conference on Thursday 9 December. The conference will highlight new kinds of intermediate labour markets and successful experiences of employing people with disabilities through social enterprises. The agenda also includes good practices for supporting work ability for people with disabilities at workplaces.

22.12.2021 | The temporary provisions of the Communicable Diseases Act will be extended until the end of June 2022. For the most part, the provisions will remain as they are at present. The President of the Republic approved the Act on Temporarily Amending the Communicable Diseases Act on 22 December 2021.

9.12.2021 | The authorities have agreed on information exchange and other cooperation in areas involving the prevention, management and resolution of financial market crises.

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...

15.3.2019 | 1 (2) Postal Address Office e-mail, internet Prime Minister’s Office Prime Minister’s Office [email protected] PO Box 23 Ritarikatu 2 B www.vnk.fi 00023 Government Helsinki Printable form for information requests in accordance with the EU General Da...

12.12.2018 | At a Slush side event in Helsinki on 5 December, the World Health Organization (WHO) told that the organisation will launch a new initiative, Innovation Hub, to support the development and market access of innovations promoting wellbeing.

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 | 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________...

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...

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

3.9.2015 | GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA PILOT ASSESSMENT OF 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...

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 ...

4.12.2017 | The Slush side event organised by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on Thursday 30 November was a creative event with a lot of pitching.

25.11.2019 | Monday 25 November is the International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women. This week, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its partners will highlight the need to reduce violence against women and children and domestic violence on a number of occasions, including two side events of Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

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...

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.

3.9.2018 | National action plan ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE 2017–2021 Publications 2017:12MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH National action plan on antimicrobial resistance 2017–2021 Antti Hakanen, Jari Jalava ja Liisa Kaartinen Ministry of Social Affair...

13.12.2017 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM) has granted a separate appropriation of EUR 80,000 to the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, to be used for drawing up a Current Care Guideline on suicide prevention for healthcare professionals. Creating a new guideline is always labour-intensive, and it is estimated that the work will take two years. The guideline may be completed in summer 2019, after which it would gradually be put into practice.

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...

4.1.2016 | Finland took over the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers on 1 January 2016. The Presidency will last the calendar year 2016 and culminate in the Nordic Council's week of sessions at the turn of October and November.

27.4.2015 | Well-being through nutrition A guide for municipal decision-makers Contents Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................

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...