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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...https://stm.fi/en/social-services
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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...https://stm.fi/en/social-services/child-welfare
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EHDS Regulation The EHDS Regulation is an EU regulation that improves citizens’ control over their personal health data and provides healthcare professionals with access to patient data, regardless of where patients live or receive treatment. The ...https://stm.fi/en/ehds-regulation
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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...https://stm.fi/en/publicity-of-documents-and-requests-for-information
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Frequently asked questions Why the family leave reform is needed? Currently, parents take family leave unevenly. This is especially detrimental to the position of women in the job market and their income, which has both short- and long-term effect...https://stm.fi/en/frequently-asked-questions-family-leave-reform
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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 ...https://stm.fi/en/disability-services
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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...https://stm.fi/en/social-security-and-services-of-asylum-seekers-in-finland
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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...https://stm.fi/en/social-and-health-services
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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 ...https://stm.fi/en/frequently-asked-questions-concerning-child-welfare-in-finland
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Legislation concerning children, young people and families Family leaves Family leaves are regulated in the Employment Contracts Act. The Act contains provisions on the rights of parents to take leave for family reasons. Employment Contracts Act 5...https://stm.fi/en/children-young-people-and-families
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International Affairs Unit The International Affairs Unit develops, plans and coordinates international affairs in the Ministry's administrative sector. The International Affairs Unit coordinates the administrative sector’s activities in intergove...https://stm.fi/en/international-affairs-unit-kvy
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Roma policy in Finland The overall objective of Finland’s National Roma Policy is to promote the inclusion, participation and equality of the Roma in different spheres of life. The policy programme is a comprehensive action plan, prepared in coope...https://stm.fi/en/participation-roma
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Rational, or sensible, pharmacotherapy is effective, safe, of high quality, economical and equal.https://stm.fi/en/rational-pharmacotherapy
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Occupational health and safety legislation is crucial to promoting employees' physical and mental health, as well as conditions of employment.https://stm.fi/en/working-life/legislation
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There are six Regional State Administrative Agencies in mainland Finland. They guide and supervise public and private healthcare and social welfare.https://stm.fi/en/supervisory-authorities
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“A career path can start in unexpected places – mine began as a Habbo Hotel moderator” Taina Pahkamaa‑Huusko has worked at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health since 2010 in a wide range of administrative roles. In her current position as Exe...https://stm.fi/en/meet-our-people-taina-pahkamaa-huusko
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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...https://stm.fi/en/data-protection
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Health services The aim of healthcare in Finland is to maintain and improve people's health, wellbeing, work ability and functional capacity and social security, as well as to reduce inequalities in health. The healthcare system is based on preven...https://stm.fi/en/health-services
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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...https://stm.fi/en/income-security/financial-assistance-families
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“What matters most is the people and how well they work together” Jari Keinänen has worked at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health for 25 years and leads the Wellbeing and Health Protection Unit. What motivates him are the variety of the work...https://stm.fi/en/meet-our-people-jari-keinanen
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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,...https://stm.fi/en/income-security/social-assistance
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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 ...https://stm.fi/en/secondary-use-of-health-and-social-data
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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...https://stm.fi/en/news
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Prevention of alcohol and drug related harm and addictions The aim of public authorities is to prevent and reduce the risks, harm and problems caused by the use of alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products as well as drug use and gambling. The Minist...https://stm.fi/en/substance-harm-prevention
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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...https://stm.fi/en/client-and-patient-safety
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Legislation on termination on pregnancyhttps://stm.fi/en/termination-of-pregnancy
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Legislation on services and benefits for older people This page lists the key pieces of legislation on services and benefits for older people. Below you will find them by topic and also links to more detailed guidance. Health and social services I...https://stm.fi/en/old-people
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Current issues Press releases New gender-neutral job evaluation model to support assessment of value of work Type: Press release Publication date: 3.9.2026 9.59 New operating models are transforming everyday health and social services with over 60...https://stm.fi/en/current-issues
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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...https://stm.fi/en/services-to-families
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Client charges in healthcare and social welfare The Government guides and directs the policy on client charges in healthcare and social welfare through legislation. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that the charges are kept at a reasonable l...https://stm.fi/en/client-fees
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6.8.2026 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes EUR 15.0 billion in appropriations for its Ministry and branch of government in 2027. This is about EUR 128 million more than in the 2026 Budget.https://stm.fi/en/-/draft-budget-of-the-ministry-of-social-affairs-and-health-and-its-branch-of-government-for-2027
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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...https://stm.fi/en/sickness-rehabilitation/occupational-accidents-and-illnesses
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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...https://stm.fi/en/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-act-on-secondary-use-of-health-and-social-data
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Gender Equality in working life Everyone has the right to an equal working life free from discrimination and harassment. Under the Act on Equality between Women and Men (Gender Equality Act), employers must promote gender equality in a systematic ...https://stm.fi/en/gender-equality-in-workin-life
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Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö koordinoi vammaispolitiikkaa. Sen toteuttaminen on kuitenkin kaikkien hallinnonalojen vastuulla.https://stm.fi/vammaispolitiikka
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fi sv en National Mental Health Strategy 2020-2030 The National Mental Health Strategy and Suicide Prevention Agenda 2020–2030 are based on long-term preparations and broad-based collaboration. The starting point is the comprehensive approach of m...https://stm.fi/en/mental-health-policy-guidelines
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Supervising OSH The Finnish Supervisory Agency oversees compliance with workplace OSH in Finland. Occupational safety and health Administration in Finland The MSAH and the four-year framework agreements concerning The Finnish Supervisory Agency de...https://stm.fi/en/supervising-osh
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Substance abuse and addiction prevention Shortly The goal of substance abuse and addiction prevention is to reduce harm and promote health, wellbeing and safety. The wellbeing services counties organise substance abuse prevention and provide healt...https://stm.fi/en/services-for-substance-abusers
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Alcohol policy The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the guidance and development of alcohol policy. Alcohol policy refers to the public authorities’ measures to prevent negative health, social and societal effects of alcoho...https://stm.fi/en/alcohol-policy
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Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Minister of Social Affairs and Health Wille Rydman The Finns Party Minister of Social Affairs and Health Wille Rydman is responsible for all other matters covered by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, ...https://stm.fi/en/minister-of-social-affairs-and-health