Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health aims to provide the population of Finland with a healthy environment, good health and functional capacity, and an adequate income and social protection in different life situations. At the end of 2005 the Finnish population was about 5.2 million.

The Ministry directs and guides the policies of social protection, social welfare and health care. It defines the main course of social and health policy, prepares legislation and key reform and steers their implementation, and handles the necessary links with the political decision-making process.

The general objectives of social welfare and health care are described in a Target and Action Plan for Social Welfare and Health Care, drawn up for the period of office of each government. Thus the development of social welfare and health services is part of the political decision-making. The Plan serves as a collaboration contract between the local authorities (municipalities) and the state. The preparation, execution and follow-up of the Plan are the responsibility of a steering group which includes representatives of the Ministry, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, related authorities, and non-governmental organizations.

There are five provinces in continental Finland plus the autonomous Province of Åland Islands. The State Provincial Offices are regional government authorities. They guide and supervise social welfare and health care in the provinces, while the country's 431 municipalities are responsible for the actual provision of services.