Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare will be headed by Ms Kirsi Varhila

On Thursday, 12 October, the Finnish Government appointed Kirsi Varhila as Director General of the Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Ms Varhila will start in her new duties on 1 December 2017. The appointment is for a fixed period until 30 November 2022.

Kirsi Varhila has held the post of Director General of the Department for Social and Health Services at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health since 2013. From September 2017 she has worked as the temporary Director General of the Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare. Ms Varhila has also worked for the Regional State Administrative Office for Southwestern Finland (former State Provincial Office of Western Finland) during the years 2001-2013. There she worked as head of the administrative department and as director of the division of basic public services, legal rights and permits. Kirsi Varhila holds the degree of Master of Social Sciences.

The Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare was founded at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in September 2017. At the same time, the Ministry reorganised its other departments and units.

The Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare (OHO) is responsible for the general steering, planning and development of healthcare and social welfare in Finland.

A total of 18 persons applied for the post of Director General of the Department for Steering of Healthcare and Social Welfare.

Inquiries

Päivi Sillanaukee, Permanent Secretary, tel. +358 295 63356, [email protected]