Freedom of choice pilot for persons aged 65 and over to begin in September

Categories: Publication date:4.7.2025

Starting from 1 September 2025, persons aged 65 and over can book a private healthcare appointment and pay only a deductible that is equal to the client fee charged for public healthcare services....
Keywords: Toimiva ja kestävä hyvinvointiyhteiskunta
Finland adopts amendments to International Health Regulations at national level

Categories: Publication date:27.6.2025

The President of the Republic has approved the new amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) at the national level. The Finnish Parliament adopted the IHR amendments in its plenary...
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Request for comments: Strengthening healthcare and social welfare preparedness in emergency conditions

Categories: Publication date: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...
Keywords: Orpon hallitusohjelma Turvallinen ja kriisinkestävä oikeusvaltio Toimiva ja kestävä hyvinvointiyhteiskunta
Health technology assessment activities to be reformed to meet current needs 

Categories: Publication date:16.6.2025

 Finland will reform and strengthen its health technology assessment (HTA) activities. As part of the reform, the expertise and resources concerning HTA activities will be pooled into a single...
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Pregnant people to be offered whooping cough vaccine to protect newborns from severe disease

Categories: Publication date:12.6.2025

From 1 July 2025 onwards, pregnant people will be offered the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine as part of the national vaccination programme. Studies show that vaccination during pregnancy is...
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Ministers issue declaration on artificial intelligence and rights of persons with disabilities

Categories: Publication date: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...
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Baltic Pride 2025 Conference to highlight LGBTI rights and equality

Categories: Publication date: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...
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EU social affairs ministers support Ukraine’s and Moldova’s aspirations for EU membership

Categories: Publication date:22.5.2025

Ukraine held a Ministerial Social Policy Summit in Lviv on 22 May. The theme of the Summit was ‘Building Resilient Societies: Innovative Solutions for Demographic Change’. The Summit also issued a...
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Most registered nurses and practical nurses are already working in the social and health care sector — career changers and pensioners are a possible extra reserve

Categories: Publication date:21.5.2025

The employment rate of registered nurses and practical nurses is high, with more than 90 per cent of graduates finding work in the social welfare and health care sector. Unemployed nurses cannot be...
Keywords: Toimiva ja kestävä hyvinvointiyhteiskunta
World Health Assembly adopts new Pandemic Agreement

Categories: Publication date:20.5.2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) is holding its 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva on 19–27 May. The Finnish delegation to the Assembly is led by Minister of Social Security Sanni...
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Comments requested on comprehensive reform of social assistance

Categories: Publication date: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...
Keywords: Sosiaaliturvauudistus Hyvinvointi syntyy työstä
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health to organise international conference on use of AI in healthcare

Categories: Publication date:16.5.2025

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will organise an international conference in cooperation with the Council of Europe to discuss artificial intelligence (AI) as part of healthcare. The...
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Government proposes changes to rights of migrants with illegal status to healthcare services

Categories: Publication date:15.5.2025

The Government proposes that Parliament amend the Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services, the Act on Cross-Border Health Care and the Act on Organising Healthcare, Social Welfare...
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Finland pools its digital health expertise to break into international markets

Categories: Publication date:15.5.2025

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has launched extensive network collaboration to bring together Finnish expertise in digital health with a view to promoting exports in this sector.
Keywords: Terveys- ja hyvinvointialan kasvuohjelma
General social security benefit to simplify social security – Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on the first stage of introducing general social security benefit

Categories: Publication date: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...
Keywords: Sosiaaliturvauudistus Hyvinvointi syntyy työstä
Citizens want clear and just social security system – report on social security dialogues published

Categories: Publication date: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...
Keywords: Sosiaaliturvauudistus
Changes to ministerial portfolios in Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Categories: Publication date:6.5.2025

The responsibility for unemployment security matters will be transferred to Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen on 6 May when Matias Marttinen replaces Arto Satonen as the new Minister...
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Minna Saario appointed as Director General of Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare at Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Categories: Publication date:30.4.2025

On Wednesday 30 April 2025, the Government appointed Minna Saario to serve as Director General of the Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare at the Ministry of Social Affairs and...
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Request for comments: Whooping cough vaccinations during pregnancy to be included in the national vaccination programme

Categories: Publication date:29.4.2025

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a change to the national vaccination programme that would mean offering the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine to everyone who is...
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Who should receive the next International Gender Equality Prize? Nominate your candidate today!

Categories: Publication date:17.4.2025

The Government of Finland awards the International Gender Equality Prize now for the fourth time. We are now asking for nominations for the 2025 candidate. Anyone is welcome to make a nomination.
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