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24.2.2022 | The new Client and Patient Safety Strategy and its Implementation Plan for 2022–2026 have been published. The vision of the Strategy is to make Finland a model country for client and patient safety in 2026 and to prevent avoidable harm.

12.6.2025 | The legislation aims to ensure the continuity of society’s critical functions during industrial action if the parties cannot by negotiation reach an agreement on the provision of essential work during the action. The Government proposes that the President of the Republic approve the legislative amendments on 13 June 2025. The amendments would come into force on 16 June 2025.

12.6.2025 | Opening Remarks by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen, OSCE Chairpersonship Conference on Climate and Safety in Hanaholmen, Espoo 11 June 2025.

26.4.2024 | Prime Minister Orpo’s Government spending limits discussion 15–16 April 2024 New adjustment measures strengthening public finances 1 (6) Impact on general government finances, total, EUR million Impact on central government, EUR million Estimated ...

9.6.2025 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host a Conference on Climate and Security in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment in Hanasaari, Espoo, on 11 June. The Conference is a one of the main events of Finland’s OSCE Chairpersonship. Experts will discuss a range of issues on climate, peace and security at the event, including the environmental and climate impacts of conflicts and the role of businesses and civil society in strengthening climate security.

21.11.2024 | On Thursday 21 November, the Government submitted its proposal to Parliament to amend the budget proposal for 2025. Some items in the proposal concern the Government's EUR 4 billion investment programme. The proposal will increase the revenue estimate by EUR 67 million and the requirement for appropriations by EUR 405 million.

28.8.2023 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes appropriations of about EUR 16.15 billion for the Ministry and its administrative branch for 2024. This is about EUR 0.4 billion more than in the 2023 Budget. The increase is mainly due to changes in the needs assessment.

3.2.2023 | More than 45,000 people who fled Ukraine last year may be eligible for a municipality of residence in 2023 after residing in Finland for one year, with about 13,000 already satisfying the qualifying period of residence in March–April. On registering a municipality of residence, they will leave the reception services system and become clients of municipalities and wellbeing services counties. This will make them a more integrated part of society in Finland.

15.2.2023 | The programme for ensuring the sufficiency and availability of healthcare and social welfare personnel, which was launched by Minister Krista Kiuru, will end as the parliamentary term draws to a close. The aim of the programme has been to find solutions to meet the labour needs of the healthcare and social welfare sector now and in the coming years.

9.12.2021 | The second phase of the reform concerning services for older people will proceed to Parliament for consideration. The reform aims to improve particularly the sufficiency and quality of services provided to older people at home. It will also expand the diversity of services.

5.7.2023 | Laura Rissanen is to serve as State Secretary to Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen. The minister has invited Sakari Rokkanen and Niilo Heinonen to serve as special assistants.

21.6.2023 | In Petteri Orpo’s Government, three ministers are responsible for matters falling within the mandate of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

19.12.2022 | Children and young people assessed child welfare as ‘adequate’ in a survey commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and carried out by the Central Union for Child Welfare. Children and young people said that child welfare should increase inclusion, reduce staff turnover and improve the regulation related to restrictive measures.

19.11.2020 | The Government has presented a supplementary budget for 2021. The Government proposes an additional appropriation of EUR 135 million for the administrative branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, bringing the administrative branch’s total budget for 2021 to EUR 17.74 billion.

29.12.2022 | A temporary amendment to the Aliens Act will ensure the validity of residence permits issued in Finland to beneficiaries of temporary protection for as long as the temporary protection is in effect in the EU. A person's first residence permit will be issued directly for the entire period of validity of the temporary protection. Moreover, those who have already received residence permits will not need to apply for an extension separately.

20.3.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has issued a guidance note to all municipalities, and for onward distribution to municipal units and to private service providers within each municipality, on specialised medical care, primary health care, services to older people, child welfare and ensuring the handling of social assistance under emergency conditions.

17.6.2020 | In its meeting on Wednesday 17 June, the Government heard an overview of all of the policies put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections and to protect vulnerable groups.

17.6.2020 | In its meeting on Wednesday 17 June, the Government heard an overview of all of the policies put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections and to protect vulnerable groups.

1.12.2022 | On 30 November 2022, Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen and experts in several fields discussed youth crime and the emergence of gangs and gang crime. The round table meeting included experts by experience, parties engaged with young people through preventive work and authorities.

1.12.2023 | This year, the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP28, will host the first-ever Health Day and climate-health ministerial. The purpose of the thematic day is to highlight how climate change affects people’s health and wellbeing as well as the resilience of health systems and societies and to point out that the climate crisis is also a health crisis.