New act to regulate the processing of client data in healthcare and social welfare

The regulation concerning the processing of client data in healthcare and social welfare will be reformed. The Government submitted the relevant bills for approval on Thursday 13 April. The President of the Republic is to approve them on Friday 14 April.

The new act on the processing of client data in healthcare and social welfare will bring together provisions on data protection and non-disclosure, right of access to information, disclosure of client data, client and patient documentation as well as national information systems and information management guidance. The act will form a uniform and comprehensive package while also correcting some of the shortcomings in the current legislation. 

New act supports the development of services

The act will harmonise and clarify regulation on the disclosure of client and patient information and the right to access information. It will also improve regulation on the right of access to information between healthcare and social welfare and lay down provisions on how to process patient data recorded in social welfare services.   

The provisions on the processing of client data and client documentation will support the development of the healthcare and social welfare services and service system, and the integration of healthcare and social welfare, i.e. the ability of the healthcare and social welfare services to form a coherent system that functions effectively from a client perspective.

Legislative amendments enable the implementation of a medication list

In connection with the new act, amendments were also made to a number of other acts. The amendments made to the Act on Electronic Prescriptions will enable the implementation of a national medication list in the Kanta Services Prescription Centre. Professionals and patients themselves can use the list to view patient medication. The amendments made to the other related acts are mainly technical in nature. The acts will enter into force on 1 January 2024.

• Reform of the regulation on client data in healthcare and social welfareLinkki toiselle sivustolle (Gateway to Information on Government Projects) (in Finnish)

Inquiries

Joni Komulainen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. + 358 2951 63453
Tuula Helander, Director, tel. + 358 2951 63480
Anna Sandberg, Senior Specialist, tel. + 358 2951 63702
Riikka Vuokko, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 2951 63600 (medication list)
Email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@gov.fi