Ministers steering wellbeing services counties: the identified shortcomings of the wellbeing services county reform will continue to be addressed determinedly

An independent group of experts has conducted a broad-based interim evaluation of the wellbeing services county reform, which was published on 10 December. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso, Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen and Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen consider the findings valuable.

The purpose of the evaluation was to examine how the reform has progressed during the first years of the wellbeing services counties and what the prospects are for achieving the reform’s long-term goals. The interim evaluation is based on the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government.

As the ministers responsible for steering wellbeing services counties have only just received the fresh report, their comments are still fairly general. At the report launch event, the ministers stressed that the results and recommendations of the interim evaluation deserve to be carefully considered. Systematic long-term measures are required to fix the shortcomings identified in the evaluation. Some of the proposed measures have already been taken based on earlier information.

“The greatest value of this excellent interim evaluation is that we now have the most up-to-date research in one place. The evaluation provides a better picture of the state of health and social services across Finland than that painted in public. Service availability remains at pre-reform levels, and equality of services is easier to achieve. Meanwhile, the report clearly indicates that despite the progress made, much work remains to be done,” says Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso.

“Although the wellbeing services counties have performed better than their reputation suggests, the first years of operation have clearly revealed structural flaws in the health and social services reform. It is particularly valuable that the country’s leading experts were able to present several unanimous proposals for improving the wellbeing services county model. Many of the measures have already been taken by the Government, such as the government proposal on time limits, which will soon be submitted to Parliament. The legislative amendment will offer regions the opportunity to apply for a new deadline to cover their deficits.  Based on this interim evaluation, we can also identify new areas for development, which we intend to address next,” says Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen.

“The interim evaluation shows that rescue services have remained reliable even as the operating environment has changed. Their preparedness and contingency planning safeguard society’s functioning in various disturbances and accidents. However, rescue services differ from the healthcare and social welfare sector in their tasks and operating logic, and it is important to identify these special characteristics when developing the service system and guidance,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

The interim evaluation was conducted by a group of distinguished researchers from various research institutes and higher education institutions. The group consisted of the following members: Professor Arto Haveri from Tampere University; Professor Harri Jalonen from the University of Vaasa; Professor Emeritus Ilmo Keskimäki from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and Tampere University; Professor Juho Saari from Tampere University; Chief Researcher Liina-Kaisa Tynkkynen from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare; Research Professor Emeritus Markku Pekurinen; Professor Mika Kortelainen from the University of Turku and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare; Research Professor Teemu Lyytikäinen from the VATT Institute for Economic Research; Managing Director Tiina Ristikari from the Family Federation of Finland; and Director Ville-Pekka Sorsa from the University of Helsinki.

Inquiries:

Nuutti Hyttinen, Special Adviser to Minister Juuso, tel.  +358 295 163 403
Alexis Vartiainen, Special Adviser to Minister Ikonen, tel. +358 295 530 176
Heikki Tamminen, State Secretary to Minister Rantanen, tel. +358 295 488 433
Saara Leppinen, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 630 (findings of the interim evaluation of the wellbeing services county reform)

Email addresses are in the format [email protected].