1. The changing structure of Finnish social and health care and the challenges supervision is facing
EPSO-conference
Helsinki
Marja-Liisa Partanen, Director General
The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira)

2. Health and Welfare: Government Agencies and Institutes
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (MSAH) National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (TTL) National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) Regional State Administrative Agencies Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

3. Central Government Steering Mechanisms for Health and Welfare services
• National and EU legislation
• Other binding and non-binding regulation
• Policy documents, strategic programs
• Recommendations, national guidelines (evidence-based practice, evidence-informed policy)
• Economic steering (equalization payments, ear-marked grants and bonuses, sanctions)
• Research and development
• Supervision (reactive, systematic, guiding)
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

4. Valvira – Purpose and role
Supervise and provide guidance to
healthcare and social service providers
alcohol administration authorities
environmental health bodies
regional supervisory authorities
Provide licencing activities for social and healthcare
Role
Protect living environment that promotes health and welfare and access to social and healthcare services that are both safe and adequate.
Valvira is an expert organisation committed to best practice.
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

5. Organisational chart Number of personnel 180 Marja-Liisa Partanen
Director General
Alcohol and Environ-mental Health
Healthcare legal rights and technology
Promotion of legal protection and high quality in healthcare
Management of health risks in the living environment
Communications
Supervision and guidance secretariat
Knowledge Director
Development Manager
Executive Assistant
Administration
Ritva Kujala
Administrative Director
Private sector licencing and social welfare supervision
Core processes
Healthcare supervision
Tarja
Holi
Director
Katariina
Rautalahti
Jussi Holmalahti Director
Esa
Koukkari
Promotion of legal protection and high quality in social welfare
Prevention of alcohol-related harm
Number of personnel 180
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

6. Relevant primary legislation
Health Care Act
Primary Healthcare Act
Act of Specialised Medical Care
Mental Health Act
Act on the Status and Rights of Patients
Act on Health Care Professionals
Social Care Act
Act on Social Care Professionals ( )
Act on the Status and Rights of Social Care Customers
Private Health Care Act
Private Social Services Act
Health Protection Act
Alcohol Act
Tobacco Act
Gene Technology Act
Food Act
Adoption Act
Biobank Act
Act on the Electronic Processing of Client Data in Social and Health Care
Act on Medical Devices
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

7. Health Care Service Districts in Finland 320 Municipalities
20 Hospital Districts
5 University Hospital Districts
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

8. Health Care Services in Finland
The majority of Finnish health care services are organized and provided by the municipal healthcare system.
Specialist care is provided by hospital districts.
The Finnish system is more decentralized and mixed in its funding than in other European countries.
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

9. Main targets of the ongoing health and social care reform (SOTE)
Main targets are:
Integration of social and health care services leading into improved cooperation between primary and secondary health care as well as welfare services.
Empowerment of primary care services and service chains by shifting organizing responsibility to larger and more resourceful entities (SOTE-districts).
SOTE-districts may self-provide regional services or contract with private or third sector providers.
Part of demanding specialized medical care may be centralized under the direction of Ministry.
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

10. Stepwise progress of SOTE
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

11. Future SOTE-districts
Maximum of 19 autonomous districts will be responsible for providing welfare and healthcare services.
SOTE-districts will be managed by elected councils.
Local government and/or central government funding models are currently under exploration.
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO

12. Valvira in the SOTE-reform
Participates in Ministry’s work in outlining the reform principles and drafting new legislation
Supervision/guidance
Participates in implementation of new legislation
Prepares solutions/guidance for integrated self-monitoring system for the whole country
Prepares proactive and risk-based supervision models
Prepares continuous monitoring systems for supervision together with THL
Prepares for quick complementary actions/revisions
to ensure patient safety - if needed
Marja-Liisa Partanen, EPSO