`Sote` reform bill submitted to parliament

The government on Tuesday has submitted the social and healthcare (Sote) reform bill to parliament, said an official press release.

The bills would enter into force in stages, the first ones on 1 July 2021 and the last ones on 1 January 2023.

However, Parliament needs to pass the legislative package before the reform can enter into force.

The aim of the health, social and rescue services reform is to reduce inequalities in health and wellbeing; safeguard equal and quality health, social and rescue services for all; improve the availability and accessibility of services; ensure the availability of skilled labour; respond to the challenges of changes in society; curb the growth of costs; and improve safety.

In line with the government proposal, 21 wellbeing services counties would be established in Finland and entrusted with the health, social and rescue services duties that are currently the responsibility of municipalities and joint municipal authorities.

A total of four wellbeing services counties would be established in the Region of Uusimaa, based on the special arrangements made for Uusimaa. The City of Helsinki would also in the future be responsible for organising healthcare, social welfare and rescue services. In addition, the joint county authority for the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa would be responsible for organising specialised medical care in Uusimaa. The responsibility for organising healthcare would be divided between the wellbeing services counties in the Region, the City of Helsinki and the joint county authority for the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa as separately laid down by law and in an agreement on the organisation of services.

In the wellbeing services counties, rescue services would be a separate sector working in parallel with the healthcare and social welfare sector.

The level of rescue services in the wellbeing services counties should correspond to national, regional and local needs and the counties should prepare for accidents and threats in their areas.

The operation of hospital districts and special care districts would be transferred to the wellbeing services counties. Similarly, the responsibility for organising the services of school social workers and school psychologists would be transferred to the wellbeing services counties. Both the wellbeing services counties and the municipalities would be in charge of promoting health and wellbeing. The municipalities would assume responsibility for the organisation of environmental healthcare as a whole.