Ministry of Social Affairs and Health instructs municipalities to take proactive measures to strengthen healthcare and social welfare services
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has issued guidance on what needs to be done in the healthcare and social welfare sector to increase operational capability before the work obligation of the Emergency Powers Act can be applied. The obligation to work is the last measure to safeguard the services.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health recommends that the service organisers take proactive measures to strengthen and maintain the activities of the healthcare and social welfare sector. Primary measures include: reorganising work activities, acquiring services from private service providers and third-sector operators, and recruiting backup employees.
Sharing good practices and, for example, utilising digitalisation and mobile and remote connections in the service provision support the sufficiency of services.
The aim is to ensure that the operational capability of health and social services and a sufficient number of staff can be secured during the coronavirus outbreak and in the event of overload in the service system.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health points out that urgent treatment of other diseases and primary-level health and social services must also be secured during the epidemic. Treatment of long-term illnesses or care for older people must not be endangered due to this exceptional situation.
Inquiries
Healthcare: Katri Makkonen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 163 592
Social welfare: Henna Leppämäki, Senior Specialist, tel. 0295 163 132 and Kirsi Kaikko, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 163 545