Govt moves to enable Int´l assistance for healthcare

The government on Thursday proposed amendments to the Act on Healthcare Professionals that will make it possible to receive international assistance for healthcare in different kinds of crisis situations, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release.

The proposal was made to facilitate and speed up the operations of humanitarian assistance providers in Finland when assistance is needed fast.

With this amendment, the Act on Healthcare Professionals would not apply to professionals who come to Finland to provide international assistance based on a request made by the Government, the President or a ministry.

The professionals could start working immediately without having to apply to the supervisory authority for the right to practice their profession.

This would speed up the reception of assistance in emergencies and during disruptions in normal conditions, including military conflicts, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and major accidents, when there is a sudden increase in the number of healthcare professionals needed.

Professionals participating in international assistance would be directed to work within the existing healthcare structures of the wellbeing services counties. Even when the assistance is implemented through groups or field hospitals, the organisations of the wellbeing services counties would be responsible for leading the operations.

The acts are scheduled to enter into force on 1 March 2026. At the same time, technical changes required due to the reform of the regional state administration would be made to the Act on Healthcare Professionals and the Act on Social Welfare Professionals.