Preparedness within Social Welfare and Health Care

Preparedness Objectives

The objective of social welfare and health care preparedness is to secure under all conditions citizens' access to the social welfare and health care services that are essential with respect to health and functional capacity, and to secure a healthy environment and subsistence. The level of services and subsistence is adjusted according to the security situation and the resources available at each time.

Threat Assessment

Social welfare and health care may experience disruption or exceptional conditions due to, for example, prolonged economic recession, widely spread epidemics and hazardous infectious diseases, radiation accidents and other environmental accidents, household water contamination, chemical threats, the weakened availability of pharmaceuticals and health care equipment, and large-scale immigration. Threats may be realised as a consequence of natural disasters, deliberate activity or terrorism.

A prolonged economic recession may impair the ability to produce the social welfare and health care services required by the public. New infectious diseases and wide-spread epidemics may require treatment capabilities that are not sustained under normal conditions. Extensive environmental disasters and nuclear plant accidents may require large-scale evacuation procedures and long-term supply and care arrangements in a new living environment. A strained international situation or disruptions in industrial production or the markets may significantly weaken the availability of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health care equipment from foreign suppliers, on which Finnish health care is largely dependent.

Preparedness System

The preparedness planning for emergencies and exceptional conditions within social welfare and health care is directed, monitored and coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in cooperation with the Social and Health Departments of the State Provincial Offices. The Ministry also provides instructions and training in preparedness planning and preparedness for emergencies and exceptional conditions for the various units within social welfare and health care.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health acts as the National Health Care Chief, who must ensure that the necessary plans exist for the management of health care under exceptional conditions and that these plans are coordinated with other preparedness planning for exceptional conditions.

An Advisory Board for Health and Welfare in Emergency Conditions has been appointed by the Government. The Board is responsible for planning and preparing the management of social welfare and health care in emergency conditions. The Board has set up sections for the preparedness planning of certain areas of social welfare and health care.

The Social Welfare and Health Care Departments of State Provincial Offices direct the preparedness planning of the social welfare and health care of the province, and participate in its implementation and maintenance as well as assist the municipalities in keeping their preparedness plans up to date. They are also responsible for coordinating regional plans together with the hospital districts.