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

16.4.2026 | The Government proposes amendments to the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances. The proposal would implement the Norwegian model for child home care allowance. The proposal seeks to promote the integration and labour market position of women with an immigrant background and to increase the participation of children in early childhood education and care.

17.2.2026 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a proposal to amend the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances. The proposal seeks to promote the integration and employment of women with an immigrant background and to implement the so‑called Norwegian model for child home care allowance, in line with the Government Programme of Prime Minister Petter Orpo.

9.4.2026 | The Government is proposing changes aimed at preventing intentional misuse of social security, reducing incorrect social security payments and improving information exchange with Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

Healthcare and social welfare for undocumented persons When it comes to the organisation of healthcare and social welfare, it should be noted that there are people residing both legally and illegally in Finland who are usually referred to as undoc...

Social security and services for people applying for and receiving international protection in Finland People applying for international protection leave their home countries for various reasons, for example, to escape war, persecution or insecuri...

Immigrants' social security, welfare and health The MSAH is responsible for matters concerning the welfare and health of immigrants living in Finland. The Ministry deals with the basic security of immigrants, essential social and health services i...

Health and social services for people arriving from Ukraine On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a military attack against Ukraine. Finland is committed to helping people who have fled the war in Ukraine to Finland, also with respect to healthcare...

Social security internationally The Finnish social security system is largely based on residence in Finland. A person arriving in Finland for work purposes is entitled to residence-based benefits even if they do not live in Finland. The entitlemen...

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...

Municipalities are responsible for promoting health and wellbeing.

Screening Screening means examination of the population or a certain part of the population, or sampling in order to discover a certain disease or its precursor or to identify a pathogen. The purpose of screening is to look for early signs of a di...

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

Organisations and associations as part of the healthcare and social welfare system. There are more than 11,000 healthcare and social welfare organisations in Finland (2020). There are also a large number of organisations in the fields of sports, culture and rescue services.

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 ...

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...

Wellbeing services counties will be responsible for organising health, social and rescue services Wellbeing services counties will be responsible for organising healthcare, social welfare and rescue services in Finland. There are 21 wellbeing serv...

Social assistance Shortly Social assistance is a last-resort form of social security that secures the essential livelihood for an individual or a family when they cannot support themselves with other income or assets. It is a means-tested benefit,...

Primary healthcare Health and social services centres are the nearest and most familiar care facilities to residents, providing many of the healthcare services organised by the wellbeing services counties. Health and social services centres provid...

Statutory insurance A significant part of social security in Finland is provided through statutory insurances. This package is called social insurance. The insurance-based forms of social security include earnings-related pension, occupational acc...

Housing allowance The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the general planning, guidance and supervision of the housing allowance legislation. The Ministry of Education and Culture in turn is responsible for the housing supple...

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...

Income security A central feature of welfare and social security is to provide support to people in vulnerable situations. Legislation » Legislation concerning income security. Financial assistance for families with children » There are various fo...

Preventing domestic and intimate partner violence The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for planning and guiding the prevention of domestic and family violence. The aim is to prevent violence and develop the nationwide service s...

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...

Family benefits The purpose of the benefit system for children and families is to safeguard the subsistence of the child and those responsible for his or her care, and to support the care of the child. The benefits are applied for at the Social In...

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...

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen The National Coalition Party Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen is responsible for matters covered by the Department for Insurance and Social Secu...

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...

Frequently asked questions about the operating models and division of duties of healthcare and social welfare personnel This page contains frequently asked questions about the operating models and division of duties of healthcare and social welfar...

5.1.2026 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health invites comments on the integration support. The comments should be submitted by 16 February 2026.

8.10.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a proposal to amend the Act on Child Home Care Allowances and Private Childcare Allowances. According to the proposal, child home care allowance could in future be granted after a minimum of three years’ residence in Finland. The amendment would implement the Norwegian model for child home care allowance as outlined in the Programme of Prime Minister Orpo's Government. The deadline for submitting comments is 20 November.

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.

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

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...

10.12.2025 | Sosiaalityöntekijöiden paikka ja saavutettavuus hyvinvointialueiden aikuissosiaalityössä AISAPA-hankkeesta (Sosiaalityöntekijöiden paikka ja saavutettavuus hyvinvointialueiden aikuissosiaalityössä 2023–2024) • Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön rahoi...

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...

12.12.2023 | Estonia and the World Health Organization (WHO) will hold a conference on the development of health systems on 12-13 December 2023, where Finland will be represented by Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso. In her speech, the Minister will address the economy of wellbeing, particularly the mutually supportive nature of both wellbeing policy measures and structures and the economy.

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.

29.8.2024 | Privacy policy – Gender Equality Barometer The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has commissioned Statistics Finland to carry out a survey on gender equality in Finland. The survey will provide information about perceived equality in different...

Social lending Shortly The wellbeing services counties grant social loans. In Helsinki, the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division is responsible for social lending. If you would like to apply for a social loan, please contact t...

8.2.2024 | 1 (4) Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Meritullinkatu 8, Helsinki | PO Box 33, FI-00023 Government, Finland +358 295 16001, stm.fi/en, @MSAH_News Privacy policy – Survey on discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy The Ministry of Social Aff...

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.

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...

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.

25.11.2021 | The social security agreement between Finland and Japan will enter into force on 1 February 2022. Ville Skinnari, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, and Takashi Murata, Japan’s Ambassador to Finland, exchanged notes on 25 November to bring the bilateral agreement into force. When the agreement enters into force, workers posted to a Contracting State will avoid double pension and unemployment insurance contributions.

20.12.2022 | From 1 January 2023 onwards, the wellbeing services counties must provide necessary non-urgent healthcare services for undocumented persons and persons whose status resembles that of an undocumented person. 

20.12.2022 | The aim of the legislative amendment is to support low-income households that have difficulties in paying their electricity bills. Financial support for electricity will be available to households that cannot, due to their low income, fully make use of the tax credit for household expenses to deduct their electricity bills.

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.

23.9.2019 | Ms. Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, and Mr. Takashi Murata, Japan's Ambassador to Finland, have signed a social security agreement between Finland and Japan in Helsinki on 23 September.

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...

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.

14.8.2019 | MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH stm.fi/en I @MSAH_News I #EU2019FI Child and family policy in Finland Financial support and family leave The aim of Finland’s family policy is to create a safe environment for children to grow up in and to pro...

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.

29.12.2020 | 1 (4) Form approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health DECISION ON THE SEIZURE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY (The Mental Health Act, Section 22 g) (Please fill in using the language of the form) 1. Personal data of the patient Surname Personal id...

8.12.2025 | This year, the International Gender Equality Prize was awarded to Masha Foundation , a Ukrainian public organisation which carries out significant work to help Ukrainian women overcome the psychological consequences of war and other violence.

29.12.2020 | 1 (6) Form approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health DECISION ON LIMITATION OF CONTACT (The Mental Health Act, Section 22 j) (Please fill in using the language of the form) 1. Personal data of the patient 2. Decision Important consider...

29.12.2020 | ( ) 1 (7) Form approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health DECISION ON ORDERING TO TREATMENT Form M3 Please fill in using the language of the form 1. Personal data of the person examined 2. Date of examination 3. Decision 4. Grounds Pers...

20.12.2018 | Gender and Nordic welfare viability in the financial crisis of 2007-2008 Eyglo Hardardottir Member of Althingi 2008-2017 Minister of Social affairs and Housing 2013-2016 Pre-2007 Financial crisis 2007-2008 By Holi-holi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, ht...

20.12.2018 | City of Malmo culture, social work and inclusion God day! I am very glad to be here today to present a practical example on culture as a tool for social inclusion and more specifcally with immigrants. But first I would like to present myself Ivana...

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

20.12.2018 | ICELANDIC EXPERIENCE ON ECONOMIC CRISES. LEGISLATION ON EQUAL PAY Eyglo Hardardottir Project manager for 2nd stage housing Domestic Shelter Iceland Member of Althingi 2008-2017 Minister of Social affairs and Housing 2013-2016 PRE-2007 FINANCIAL CR...

10.12.2020 | On 10 December, the Government decided to extend the restrictions on entry into the country until 12 January 2021. The COVID-19 epidemic is still clearly growing globally, and the number of infections is increasing in most countries. Although the number of new cases in Finland started to rise in the autumn after a calmer period in the summer, differences between the epidemiological situations in Finland and many other countries have recently grown sharply.

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.

12.8.2021 | Screening for colorectal cancer will be made nationwide. Screening for cervical cancer, too, will be expanded. The Government amended the Government Decree on Screenings on Thursday 12 August. The amendment will enter into force on 1 January 2022.

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...

14.8.2019 | MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH stm.fi/en I @MSAH_News I #EU2019FI Child and family policy in Finland Child welfare and care The aim of Finland’s family policy is to create a safe environment for children to grow up in and to pro- vide paren...

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

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.

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

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.

26.6.2019 | Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on vaccinations The following is issued by decision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health pursuant to section 54 of the Communicable Diseases Act (1227/2016): Section 1 National vaccinatio...

3.4.2020 | The distribution of a letter with information on coronavirus has begun. The letter should reach every household in Finland by 9 April 2020 at the latest. The purpose of the letter is to provide every citizen with information on coronavirus and ways to avoid getting the virus.

29.11.2019 | The President of the Republic has appointed Outi Antila as Director General of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). She will take up the position on 1 January 2020, when the current Director General of Kela, Elli Aaltonen, will retire.

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

1.6.2018 | 1 Inkeri Tanhua Gender equality and Nordic welfare societies 2 Contents Gender equality and Nordic welfare societies Introduction.........................................................................................................................

11.6.2020 | FINNISH GOVERNMENT | Snellmaninkatu 1 A, Helsinki, PO Box 23, FI-00023 Government, Finland Prime Minister Marin’s Government decides basis for health and social services reform The Government has finalised the policy outlines for the health and so...

9.5.2022 | 1 Vuoden 2021 yliopistotasoisen tutkimuksen hankehaku Hankkeen johtaja: Kirsi Juhila Hankkeen valmistellut tutkimusryhmä: Kirsi Juhila, Päivikki Kuoppakangas, Veera Niemi, Jenni Mäki, Johanna Ranta, Jarkko Rasinkangas, Jari Stenvall Hankkeen toteu...

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

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

9.5.2022 | 1 Liite: HANKESUUNNITELMA Lastensuojelun asiantuntijuus maahanmuuttajalasten ja -perheiden sosiaalityössä (LAMPE) 1.10.2021-30.9.2023 Konsortio: Jyväskylän yliopisto/Kokkolan yliopistokeskus Chydenius, Turun yliopisto, Itä-Suo- men yliopisto, Siir...

22.12.2016 | Sales-based alcohol consumption in the Nordic Countries has decreased the most in Denmark and Finland. However, these countries are still the largest consumers of alcohol. In 2014, 9.5 litres of alcohol were consumed in Denmark per resident over the age of 15. In Finland the figure was 8.8 litres and in Greenland 8.6 litres.

29.12.2016 | Both upper secondary and higher education students will be transferred under the general housing allowance on 1 August 2017. Student housing supplement under the current student financial aid system will still be available to students studying abroad and to students attending fee-based studies in a folk high school, a sports institute or the Sámi Education Institute and living in the school dormitory.

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...

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

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 ____________________________________________________________________________________...

5.5.2022 | The number of COVID-19 patients in specialised and primary healthcare started to decline in April. The results of wastewater monitoring also indicate a downward trend in the epidemic. A fourth vaccine dose is recommended for people aged 12 or over who have a severely weakened immune system, people aged 80 or over and all older people living in residential care homes.

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...

21.4.2022 | The number of COVID-19 patients in specialised and primary healthcare has decreased slightly. Vaccinations continue to provide effective protection against the more serious forms of the disease. A fourth vaccine dose is recommended for people aged 12 or over who have a severely weakened immune system, people aged 80 or over and all older people living in residential care homes.

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...

19.5.2022 | COVID-19 also spread widely among the older population in early 2022. This led to a rise in the number of COVID-19-related deaths occurring within 30 days of testing positive. However, this trend took a downward turn in late April–early May. Despite the considerable number of infections, the mortality rate among those who have received at least three vaccine doses has clearly remained at a lower level when compared to the rest of the population.

7.12.2023 | The Government has issued decrees on rehabilitation for disabled veterans’ spouses and widows and for war widows and on the front-line allowance for foreign volunteer front-line soldiers in 2024.

19.12.2018 | Nordic Future of Work Conference The Future of Work and new Forms of Work from the Global and the Nordic Perspectives Helsinki 1 Nordic Future of Work Conference I The Future of Work and new Forms of Work from the Global and the Nordic Perspective...

10.12.2018 | Nordic Future of Work Conference The Future of Work and new Forms of Work from the Global and the Nordic Perspectives Helsinki 1 Nordic Future of Work Conference I The Future of Work and new Forms of Work from the Global and the Nordic Perspective...

11.12.2023 | The International Gender Equality Prize was awarded to the Afghan Women Skills Development Center, which works to promote and protect the rights of women in Afghanistan. The organisation does important humanitarian work to promote the safety of Afghan women.

28.10.2020 | For over six months, the COVID-19 epidemic has put an unprecedented strain on people’s mental coping and wellbeing. It is important that those who feel anxious or worried seek help in these exceptional times. Sometimes it takes courage to seek help, and it is fortunate that many have been brave enough to reach out and ask for help.

15.10.2020 | The number of new coronavirus infections has increased significantly in Finland over the last month. The number of patients in hospital care has more than doubled since the end of September.  

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.

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 ...

26.3.2019 | Ehdotuksia lääkehoidon kokonaisuuden hallintaan ja optimointiin Asiantuntijatoimeksianto; Hanna Kortejärvi, Ilkka Kunnamo 26.3.2019 2(56) Tiivistelmä Lääkehoidon kokonaisuuden hallinnalla tarkoitetaan keinoja hallita lääkehoidon määräämistä, toteu...