Web news - Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

18.02.2010 09:34

Vaccinations against swine influenza continue, telephone helpline will be closed
Getting a vaccination against swine influenza is still recommended. Vaccinations can contribute to preventing a second wave of the influenza, which is according to experts likely to occur next autumn at the latest. During this spring taking the vaccination is free of charge for all those resident in Finland.
10.02.2010 09:32

Finland has received 4.2 million doses of vaccine
Finland has so far received 4.2 million doses of the swine flu vaccine. The 1.4 million doses that arrived recently will be distributed to municipalities this week. The rest of the vaccines, a total of 1.1 million doses, should arrive in a few weeks.
21.01.2010 14:12

Nurses get limited right to prescribe medication to patients in their care
It is proposed that nurses are given a limited right to prescribe drugs to the patients they treat at nurses' clinics. The requirements include an employment relationship with the health centre, necessary further training, and an authorisation from the physician-in-charge. The limited prescribing right applies only to medication for specific medical conditions.
15.12.2009 15:03

The swine influenza epidemic is declining - new cases are expected to emerge all through the winter
The peak of the influenza A(H1N1)v infections, i.e. swine influenza epidemic has been passed everywhere in Finland. The numbers of influenza patients treated in health centres, hospitals and intensive care departments have dropped to the usual levels during the cold season.
26.11.2009 15:38

The epidemic is declining as a result of vaccinations
The swine influenza vaccinations have affected the course of the epidemic and relieved the burden of hospitals in Finland. They have ensured the functioning of health care services, protected the most vulnerable part of the population and curbed the spread of the epidemic.
23.11.2009 10:30

At-risk groups advised to get vaccinated

Persons belonging to at-risk groups because of an underlying disease have been vaccinated against swine influenza since the beginning of November. The vaccination of this group was started among the first groups, immediately after pregnant women.
09.11.2009 18:37

More support to municipalities for vaccinations, treatment and information regarding swine flu
In most municipalities in Finland the swine influenza vaccinations programme has been carried out successfully. The experience is that it is appropriate to organise the vaccinations in larger municipalities and cities in a decentralised manner, for instance at several health centres and at schools.
06.11.2009 15:33

The prize Father of the Year goes to Pekka Seppänen, a peer support person for divorced parents
The father of a reconstituted family living in Helsinki, Pekka Seppänen, a systems designer by profession, has been elected the Father of the Year. The prize is awarded to Seppänen for his valuable voluntary work in providing peer support to divorced parents.
27.10.2009 15:46

Working Group: Stronger and more coordinated European financial supervision
Supervision of financial actors in the European Union needs to be made more effective and better coordinated, as proposed by the European Commission. Amendments also need to be made to national legislation to improve supervision of branches of foreign credit institutions operating in Finland.
15.10.2009 13:37

Minister Risikko conveyed a letter regarding plain packaging of tobacco products to EU Commissioner for Health
The Finnish Minister Paula Risikko presented in the context of the extra Employment, Social Policy and Consumer Affairs Council on Monday a letter dealing with plain packaging of tobacco products to Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou.
06.10.2009 10:41

How to dismantle the traditional division of duties between women and men?
"In view of gender equality and equal pay it is important to find effective means to dismantle the division into women's and men's occupations and branches in education and working life," stated the chair of the monitoring group for the Equal Pay Programme Mr Pentti Arajärvi in his opening address at a seminar in Helsinki on 30 September 2009.
01.10.2009 13:43

The aim of the Tobacco Act should be to stop the use of tobacco products
The Government proposes changing the aim of the Act on Measures to Reduce Tobacco Smoking so that it will be to stop the use of tobacco products. According to the proposal, the display of tobacco products and their trademarks in retail sale facilities will be forbidden in the future.
18.09.2009 10:04

A proposal for the order of vaccination submitted
The first batch of vaccines intended for the prevention of influenza A(H1N1)v infections will arrive in Finland in October. The national expert group on the vaccination programme has drawn up a proposal for the order of vaccination
16.09.2009 19:00

Drug situation has stabilised in Finland
The Finnish drug policy has been successful according to the Drug Policy Report of 2008. There was no further increase in experimenting with drugs or drug use in 2008, and among younger people the trend has even been declining.
28.08.2009 14:30

Minister Hyssälä appointed a working group to reform the parental leave system
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Liisa Hyssälä has appointed a working group to review the possibilities to reform the system of parental leaves. The reform goals include, among others, more support for parenting and encouragement for fathers to take family leave more than at present.
22.07.2009 15:57

The Finnish health care prepares for an extensive epidemic of influenza A (H1N1)
The severity of influenza A (H1N1) disease resembles the seasonal influenza, and the majority of patients recover well without requiring any medical or hospital treatment. Finland moves from the containment phase to the treatment phase during which the focus is on the prevention of the severe forms of the disease.
21.07.2009 14:32

The reference price system will reduce medicinal costs by tens of millions of euros
The reference price system for medicines will reduce the medicinal costs in Finland by 40-120 million euros. In addition, the generic substitution regime implemented in 2003 has reduced medicine prices by up to 60 % by the end of 2007. This becomes evident in the preliminary analysis of the reference price system.
07.07.2009 15:55

62 confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) in Finland
In four cases the infection was contracted in Finland from family members returning from abroad. The containment phase measures are still continued.
25.06.2009 15:55

Reform of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health responds to society's needs
An independent international evaluation group has reviewed the activities of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The group noted that the Institute has been successful in revising its activities and organisation in accordance with the society's needs.
16.06.2009 13:59

European family ministers agree to cooperate in supporting families
European ministers responsible for family affairs meet in Vienna on 16-17 June. In the conference, the ministers will be discussing, for example, why many Europeans have fewer children than they actually want and how family-friendly policies can be realised. Finland is represented by the Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko.
15.06.2009 12:39

Ministers step up physical activity and focus more attention on health

The ‘Ministers for Health Promotion' campaign has started, and most ministers have already had their physical condition assessed. The biggest challenges for maintaining a good condition or its improvement are the time pressures of work.
15.06.2009 10:10

The new pandemic alert does not occasion new measures in Finland
The World Health Organization (WHO) held a press conference on Thursday 11 June at which it informed about a global pandemic caused by the new influenza A(H1N1) virus, raising the level of pandemic alert to phase 6. In Finland the declaration of pandemic does not occasion any new immediate measures.
11.06.2009 09:17

Ms Vassiliou on a visit to Finland
The EU Health Commissioner Ms. Androulla Vassiliou is visiting Finland on 10-11 June. During the visit, the Health Commissioner Vassiliou and the Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko discuss, for example, the Commission initiative to promote the health and wellbeing of children and young people.
11.06.2009 09:04

Vassiliou vierailee Suomessa
EU:n terveyskomissaari Androulla Vassiliou vierailee Suomessa 10.-11. kesäkuuta. Vierailun aikana terveyskomissaari Vassiliou keskustelee peruspalveluministeri Paula Risikon kanssa mm. komission aloitteesta, joka koskee lasten ja nuorten hyvinvoinnin ja terveyden edistämistä.
19.05.2009 12:54

World Health Assembly to discuss pandemic influenza preparedness
The World Health Organisation's (WHO) annual assembly convenes in Geneva on 18-22 May 2009. The assembly has been shortened in response to the influenza A(H1N1) situation and it will specifically focus on the current situation of influenza preparedness. Finland is represented in the assembly by the Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko.
12.05.2009 11:32

Two cases of influenza A(H1N1) confirmed in Finland
The first laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) have been discovered in Finland. The patients are two young adults from the Greater Helsinki Area who returned from Mexico on the same flight. The patients are treated at home and they both are well.
05.05.2009 11:47

Influenza hotline open for the public

You can get answers to your questions about influenza A (H1N1) from the telephone information line Ask about influenza. The number of the information line is 0800 02277, and for the moment the service is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 16.
28.04.2009 17:20

WHO steps up measures against swine flu - instructions for travellers

In the wake of the swine flu outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday raised the pandemic alert level in an attempt to steer efforts to control the epidemic caused by the new flu strain. The move to raise the threat level was expected. National public health authorities are now scrambling to issue guidelines for travellers to contain the spread of the virus and to speed up detection of possible swine flu cases.
23.04.2009 09:09

Finland is preparing a National Policy on Roma
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has set up a working group to prepare a National Policy on Roma. Its objective is to reinforce the inclusion and equal treatment of the Roma minority in different spheres of life. The Policy covers a number of theme areas such as education, housing, health and social services, promotion of employment, promotion of the Romani language and culture, and elimination of discrimination and vulnerability.
16.04.2009 14:03

Patient safety a topic in a ministerial conference in Prague
Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko represents Finland in a ministerial conference held in Prague on 15-16 April that focuses on patient safety and the prevention and surveillance of healthcare associated infections. In the conference Minister Risikko will be presenting Finnish programmes on antimicrobial resistance as well as the new National Patient Safety Strategy published in January.
01.04.2009 14:17

Minister Risikko visits Oslo

Ministers and politicians responsible for health affairs and experts in health from 53 countries meet in Oslo on 1 to 2 April to discuss the effects of the ongoing economic crisis on the health situation in Europe. The meeting seeks means to respond to the crisis, to promote health and to reduce poverty and inequality.
28.02.2009 15:05

Equality planning at workplaces is becoming more diversified
Gender equality planning has increased and is more diversified than before. Pay surveys regarding men's and women's pay have become an integral part of the planning. Altogether 56 per cent of the workplaces that have conducted a pay survey have found differences in pay between women and men. In many cases, this observation has not led to any measures however. These results appear from a study on gender equality planning and pay surveys in Finland in 2008 carried out by the Work Research Centre of the University of Tampere, which was published on 25 February in Helsinki.
28.02.2009 14:40

MSAH website has been revised

The MSAH has revamped and revised its website, to make it a more user-friendly and informative service. The English language version of the website offers overviews of all the key areas of Finnish social policy. The English version of the website carries useful cross-reference links and links to other sources in English, including to MSAH publications available online, that provide more detailed information on various subjects. The new website is fully up-to-date, reflecting recent structural changes in the MSAH and its administrative sector, and the current state of reform and development within the social affairs and health sectors. The website also offers the chance to subscribe to MSAH press releases, publication information.

MSAH website has been revised