Agreement on healthcare and social welfare reform

The Government has reached agreement on the principles concerning the healthcare and social welfare reform and on the number of regions and areas. The number of autonomous regions will be 18. Healthcare and social welfare services will be organised in 15 areas.

As part of the reform, the Government will enact legislation on the freedom of choice, which will allow users of the services to choose either a public, private of third sector service provider.  The policy will be published in the Government Press Room on Monday 9 November at 13.00 once all the technical details of the policy have been thoroughly examined. 

Inquiries: Riina Nevamäki, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, tel. +358 40 705 2593 and Tuomas Pöysti, Permanent State Under-Secretary, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 012