Programme for County Elections 2025

We want to promote preventive measures, shorten wait times for healthcare and services, and build a service system centered around people’s needs and well-being—without leaving anyone behind. Seeking help must not become another daily challenge; instead, people should receive care and support as soon as they need it. Timely access to care and support benefits both individuals and society—both in human and economic terms. Efforts to enhance well-being and promote health must be strengthened through closer collaboration between municipalities and other stakeholders.

• We ensure that everyone receives care at the right time: Early intervention and prevention are crucial, both from a human and cost-efficiency perspective. Everyone should have access to their local healthcare center or social services when needed.
• We make services accessible: Local health and social care centers and service points must be developed to be accessible to all, including people with disabilities and neurological conditions. These service points must be barrier-free.
• We utilize digital and remote services: We improve access to digital healthcare, remote medical consultations, social care, and mental health services, while maintaining physical access to care. Remote services are particularly beneficial for rural residents, reducing travel time and increasing convenience. Digitalization can also help provide continuous monitoring for patients with chronic conditions.
• We strengthen mobile services: We bring healthcare and social services closer to people through mobile health and social care units. These mobile units can offer healthcare and social services in regions where physical service points are distant. This particularly benefits young people, the elderly, and people with mobility impairments. Mobile services must also be designed to be barrier-free.
• We ensure contact with professional staff: Appointment booking must be easy and accessible through multiple channels, including by phone, online, and mobile apps. We direct patients to the right services efficiently, reducing waiting times and improving service delivery.
• We promote well-being and health simultaneously: We strengthen cooperation between municipalities, counties, and other stakeholders to create a more integrated and effective healthcare and social care system.

We Enable a Smooth and High-Quality Public Service System

Services must be available at the right moment, precisely when the need arises, and at the right place. They should also be provided by skilled professionals. The public sector is responsible for ensuring access to services, while organizations and the private sector serve as valuable partners to the counties—without them, the necessary services cannot be delivered.

A well-functioning public sector enhances citizens’ health, well-being, and security, creating a strong foundation for a sustainable society. Continuity of care and efficient service delivery are fundamental prerequisites for a functioning service system. Across the entire country, customer information must be up to date and be easily and securely transferable across service providers and regional borders.

Efficient Kanta services (Finland’s national health record system), standardized documentation structures and procedures, comprehensive quality registers, as well as structured recording and monitoring, improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of services while streamlining the work of healthcare professionals.

• We ensure quick access to primary healthcare: The care guarantee for non-urgent primary healthcare should be a maximum of 14 days. We will increase staff at healthcare centers and implement the personal healthcare team model (own-team model) across all counties.
• We guarantee continuity of care: A patient’s needs are best met when care and support are provided by the same trusted professionals. This ensures faster diagnoses, quicker access to treatment, and greater accuracy. Continuity of care can be guaranteed through multidisciplinary teams that include various professionals from different fields.
• We enhance the support that specialized healthcare provides to primary care: We will enable smoother consultation processes between primary care and specialized healthcare. We will also integrate expertise from specialized healthcare into primary care, for example, by placing wound and stoma care specialists at local health centers to support basic services.
• We strengthen preventive measures and self-care: We will ensure that there are adequate resources for preventive measures and services that support self-care.
• We recognize the role of arts and culture in mental health and functional capacity: Counties should allocate a portion of total construction costs to the arts, recognizing their positive effects on mental well-being.
• We integrate social and healthcare services: We will direct resources to genuine collaborations, such as multiprofessional teams, integrating health and social counseling, and creating seamless service pathways across different providers.
• We ensure timely access to dental care: We will ensure that non-urgent dental care is available within 3–6 months, while urgent care is provided immediately. We will also expand the use of service vouchers to address unmet healthcare needs.
• We reduce the need for private health insurance: By improving access to healthcare and ensuring continuity of care, we aim to eliminate the need for private health insurance as a prerequisite for receiving essential services.
• We enhance rehabilitation opportunities and support work ability: We will integrate rehabilitation into treatment processes early on and develop occupational healthcare to help maintain work ability and reduce sick leave.
• We measure the quality of specialized healthcare and ensure equal access: We will guarantee that specialized healthcare is of high quality and accessible, regardless of location. We also believe that private specialized healthcare providers should be held to the same obligations as public healthcare providers.
• We strengthen public service provision: Legally mandated services within counties should primarily be managed by the public sector, with complementary contributions from the private sector and organizations. We will ensure that both public and private services are driven by quality, equality, and cost-effectiveness. Private service providers should not be allowed to profit irresponsibly.
• Quality and efficiency must be the primary criteria in procurement: Public procurement should be guided by cost-effectiveness, responsibility, sustainability, transparency, and support for local services. We will also ensure that small businesses and organizations have fair opportunities to participate in public procurement processes.

We Create Sufficient Safety Nets for Everyday Life

Everyone has the right to timely and adequate support on equal terms. Ensuring quality social services requires sufficient resources, proximity to customers, and support for staff well-being. Preventive services can help prevent social issues from worsening and make access to care easier. Special attention must be given to the specific needs of vulnerable groups, such as low-income individuals, people with chronic illnesses, and children. The goal should be to develop flexible and accessible services that strengthen equality in society and help individuals overcome difficulties.

The continuity of care is best ensured through the “own-team model”. A doctor does not always have to be the primary point of contact—nurses or other healthcare professionals can also fulfill this role. This improves task distribution in response to staff shortages in the social and healthcare sectors. The traditional family doctor model alone is insufficient.

• We ensure that there are enough social workers: We make it possible for people to train as social workers, even though adult education support has been discontinued, by offering more flexible working hours and paid study days.
• We strengthen the foster care system: In accordance with child protection laws, we shift foster care operations to dedicated public care units rather than outsourcing them to private contractors. We increase training for support families and foster caregivers and ensure sufficient support measures for families that take on these responsibilities. We aim to bring Finland’s share of foster care closer to the levels in Norway and Sweden. We guarantee fair compensation and ensure that support measures are adequate.
• We assign dedicated case workers to individuals who frequently use services to assess their overall situation and provide long-term guidance through various service phases.
• We consolidate services and advisory support for the homeless: We create a homelessness strategy for all counties in collaboration with municipalities and organizations. We ensure client participation and guarantee the sustainability of the “Housing First” model across all counties.
• We increase multidisciplinary cooperation: We recognize and reinforce the key role of social services. We further strengthen collaboration between different professional fields to provide comprehensive support and avoid redundancies in the system.
• We speed up service processes: We make it easier to seek help and ensure quick access to services. Shorter processing times and user-friendly procedures help prevent problems from escalating. For example, the evaluation of work ability among the unemployed should be accelerated.
• We make client fees reasonable, and in cases of financial hardship, the fees should be eliminated entirely. We do not use private debt collection agencies to recover unpaid client fees.
• We strengthen and develop structured social work in counties: Through structured social work, we ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable individuals are heard and that the service system is improved to better meet their needs.

We Ensure Essential Services in Emergency, Urgent, and Crisis Situations

The rescue services play a crucial role not only in preventing and managing emergencies but also in enhancing public safety and crisis management. Additionally, preventive measures and public education are necessary to help people prepare for different types of emergencies.

Everyone should take steps to prepare for emergency situations in their daily lives, and rescue services play a key role in this process. Additionally, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are vital in emergency preparedness efforts.

Emergency medical services (EMS) are critical in life-threatening situations where availability and response times must be ensured, especially in rural areas and for vulnerable populations. A well-functioning emergency care system requires adequate resources, skilled personnel, and effective coordination with other healthcare and safety authorities.

We also ensure immediate crisis support for people who have experienced sudden traumatic events. In emergency situations, it is crucial to provide adequate resources for social emergency services.

• We allocate resources effectively: The burden on emergency services can be reduced by implementing regional dispatch and triage services for non-urgent emergency care. These services help determine the appropriate response for individuals calling emergency hotlines. Home-based services and mobile social and healthcare units are important complements to primary healthcare services—increasing their capacity would free up emergency care resources to focus on critically ill and severely injured patients.
• We improve risk assessment and emergency preparedness: Preventive measures—such as enhanced fire safety education and first aid preparedness—reduce accidents and prevent serious emergencies. Risk assessments must consider local conditions, including seasonal events, large gatherings, and the spread of infectious diseases, to better allocate emergency and rescue resources. We will also integrate data from various services and develop data-driven leadership to better anticipate risks.
• We utilize technology: Technological tools, such as real-time GPS tracking and communication systems, improve the speed and safety of rescue, emergency medical, and crisis services. Additionally, AI-based analytics tools can assist with resource planning and risk prediction.
• We improve access to emergency medical services: The number and availability of emergency medical units can be increased by expanding mobile EMS teams and ensuring adequate staffing levels, especially during peak hours. Efficient on-call systems reduce overcrowding in emergency departments and ensure timely care.
• We ensure adequate resources for social and crisis emergency services: In emergency social work, professionals should always work in pairs to ensure client and workplace safety.
• We establish multidisciplinary collaboration groups in the rescue services: These groups, including authorities and volunteers, will plan and coordinate operations to optimize resource distribution, such as animal rescue services, while freeing up critical crisis and emergency response resources for urgent tasks.
• We improve air ambulance services and ensure equal access for all: We invest in research and development to enhance first aid and emergency response capabilities.

We Ensure Equal and Fair Services in Counties

Ensuring equal services for different minority groups in counties requires special attention and tailored solutions. Minorities such as persons with disabilities, individuals belonging to sexual and gender minorities, as well as linguistic and cultural minorities, have specific needs that impact accessibility and quality of services. Counties must develop services with a gender-sensitive and equality-driven approach. This means actively considering women’s specific needs regarding health and well-being when allocating resources, organizing services, and making policy decisions, for example, in combating domestic violence.

• We ensure that all individuals are treated with sensitivity: When providing services to sexual and gender minorities, persons with disabilities, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds, we ensure that staff are properly trained—for example, in sexual health counseling—so that services feel safe and respectful.
• We ensure that all services are accessible to people with different types of disabilities and minority groups.
• We uphold the principles of the Disability Services Act, ensuring equal rights between persons with and without disabilities. Disability services must be based on individual needs, and no person with a disability should be left without the necessary services or rehabilitation.
• We guarantee the right of people with disabilities to participate in decisions affecting them and to choose where and with whom they live. We end competitive bidding on essential lifelong services for people with disabilities. We simplify administrative processes to ensure that individuals receive the services they need without unnecessary bureaucracy.
• We secure suitable communication and information channels for people with sensory impairments, those in need of simplified language, and linguistic minorities requiring services in languages other than Finnish. This ensures that everyone receives accessible and understandable healthcare and support.
• We focus on accessibility and ease of use for both physical and digital services so that individuals with visual or hearing impairments can also access digital and remote services.
• We require all counties to develop equality and non-discrimination plans to ensure adequate services for clients and fair treatment of staff. This helps prevent structural discrimination within the counties.
• We ensure that transportation services are organized in a way that truly enables people to move freely and without fear—whether of not reaching their destination, not getting a return ride, or experiencing unsafe situations. Transportation services must be flexible to support daily life needs. We combat and prevent sexual harassment within transportation services.

We Guarantee Sufficient Funding for Counties

Finland spends the least on social and healthcare services in relation to GDP among the Nordic countries. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the overall funding of counties and its financial management significantly impacts the ability of these counties to exercise economic autonomy. The period for deficit recovery should be extended, and the overall funding level should be increased to allow counties to meet rising cost pressures. Additionally, in the long run, counties should be granted taxation rights, strengthening their self-governance and enabling region-specific funding solutions.

• We increase the funding level of counties: We ensure that county financing corresponds to actual costs, especially considering rising inflation and wage costs.
• We extend the deficit recovery period: We provide counties with an additional one or two years to balance their long-term finances.
• We update the county index: We correct flaws in the index so that it reflects real cost fluctuations in the counties, ensuring more accurate funding allocation based on actual needs.
• We grant counties taxation rights: This would increase regional financial autonomy and efficiency. Taxation rights would include an equalization mechanism to account for the different socioeconomic conditions of various counties.
• We integrate socioeconomic factors into the funding model: We improve funding allocation by considering the population’s socioeconomic status and social service needs.
• We gradually centralize multi-channel financing: We phase out Kela reimbursements for private healthcare and redirect funds to publicly funded services. Public funds should strengthen the public service system rather than subsidizing private healthcare.

Every child, adolescent, and family has the right to a good everyday life. Counties, in collaboration with municipalities, must ensure a safe environment for children to grow up and thrive. Preventive and early support services for families with children must be further strengthened. Services such as maternity and child health clinics, school health services, and student healthcare have proven effective in early identification of problems. The well-being of adults plays a key role in ensuring children’s well-being, and timely assessment of service needs saves resources by addressing problems comprehensively.

• We strengthen support for families with children: We expand family counseling services and home-based family support to ensure timely intervention. We increase training and support for foster families and family caregivers. We facilitate the transition from outsourced foster care to in-house foster care units. In cases of divorce, we ensure that families receive early access to a child welfare ombudsman, who must have expertise in complex family situations.
• We enhance expertise in neuropsychiatric services: We strengthen the availability of professionals specializing in neuropsychiatric disorders. We focus on low-threshold, client-centered interventions, considering individual energy levels and capabilities when designing support services.
• We support family planning and reproductive health: We ensure that every county has accessible family planning clinics where individuals can receive support and information about family planning. We improve access to fertility treatments and enable faster medical evaluations based on individual needs while acknowledging diverse family structures.
• We promote safe pregnancies and childbirth: We expand family coaching programs and test midwife-led models for maternity care to better accommodate parents’ wishes and needs. We ensure that all women who give birth receive adequate recovery time, regardless of delivery method. We provide postpartum physiotherapy to support recovery, and we guarantee comprehensive postnatal support services.
• We strengthen parental support services: We maintain and develop maternity and child health clinics, school health services, and student healthcare to meet growing needs such as parenting support. We ensure that each county has a sufficient number of professionals, including nurses, psychologists, social workers, and psychiatric professionals. In collaboration with municipal services, we provide additional support for single parents, particularly during school holidays. We expand teen counseling services to better support parents and families with teenagers.
• We improve the well-being of children and youth: We collaborate with municipalities and organizations to address physical inactivity and poor eating habits among children, adolescents, and students. We support family work and mentorship programs as part of child welfare services. We offer free contraception to individuals under 25, new mothers within the first year postpartum, and clients in addiction treatment programs. We enable sterilization for individuals under 30 who meet medical criteria.
• We ensure sufficient resources for social services for families with children: We prioritize preventive interventions in child welfare and social services. We improve cooperation between municipalities, counties, the state, and organizations to provide effective support for youth involved in criminal behavior.
• We Ensure That Foster Children and Youth Receive Necessary Support: We guarantee that children and youth in foster care have better access to essential support services from social services and healthcare during their placement.
• We promote an active lifestyle: We ensure that physical activity is discussed as part of various services and that clients are referred to physical activity counseling when necessary.

The elderly population is diverse—some enjoy a high quality of life and can live independently, while others require more support and services. The key to elderly care services is an individual needs assessment that ensures each person receives the most suitable and safest care and living arrangements.

Accessible, safe services and barrier-free living environments help seniors live at home as long as possible. The elderly face challenges such as low income, inaccessible housing, and loneliness, all of which reduce quality of life. The growing demand for elderly care is a major challenge that must be managed effectively and preventively. As the population ages, factors like declining health, increasing chronic diseases, and diverse care needs become more prominent, requiring versatile and efficient solutions.

• We create safe housing solutions: More homelike and individualized housing options are needed. Alternative models to home care and assisted living, such as co-housing, should be expanded. Co-housing is particularly beneficial for seniors with limited mobility, as it enhances communal support. We utilize innovative technology and smart solutions to improve living safety.
• We ensure good living conditions for seniors: To help seniors live as well as possible, we guarantee sufficient home care services and multidisciplinary support such as meal services, cleaning, and transportation. Homes should be adapted to meet seniors’ needs to allow them to remain at home longer. To combat loneliness, we ensure that seniors have access to recreational activities.
• We ensure continuity of care with dedicated personal assistants or care teams: For comprehensive care coordination, every senior should be assigned a personal assistant or a designated care team. Family members and organizations should be actively involved in care planning.
• We implement preventive and early interventions: Early detection and management of chronic diseases help prevent worsening conditions. We promote physical activity, mental health, and nutrition counseling to maintain independence and reduce care needs. We ensure seniors can plan their future care in advance by encouraging advance care directives (living wills).
• We develop diverse care options: Flexible and personalized care solutions, such as assisted living, family care, and co-housing, must be expanded to allow seniors to stay in familiar environments while receiving needed care. We ensure that competent professionals provide high-quality care in communal housing. By combining different care models, we provide individualized services while reducing reliance on expensive care solutions. 24/7 care must be available when necessary—no one should be forced into unsuitable care or housing options due to financial constraints.

We Support Family Caregivers

Family caregivers play an irreplaceable role in taking care of their loved ones. However, they need more support to sustain their demanding caregiving responsibilities. This includes adequate compensation, regular breaks, and ongoing health and well-being monitoring. The role of family caregiving should be better recognized within the healthcare system, and caregivers’ needs should be integrated into the countie’s service structure.

• We ensure adequate support services: Family caregivers’ well-being is supported through short-term respite care and other support services to allow them to rest and manage personal affairs. We develop customized guidance and counseling services for caregivers on topics such as home care, healthcare, and social services.
• We increase training and peer support: Family caregivers should have stronger rights to education and peer support networks. Training programs will improve caregivers’ understanding of changes in their loved one’s health and teach them how to provide better care.
• We regulate caregiver compensation at appropriate levels: Compensation for family caregivers must be fair and appropriate, considering their responsibilities and workload.
• We launch a pilot program for home-based physician services: Family caregivers should have access to home-based primary care. Care recipients should also be offered dedicated home medical services to improve their quality of life and health outcomes.

Improving mental health care and substance abuse treatment is critical to meeting the growing demand for services and supporting overall well-being. Mental health issues contribute significantly to workforce exclusion. Preventive measures reduce the risk of severe mental illness and addiction and ensure early support for those in need.

A key goal is expanding access to mental health services, particularly low-threshold services. This includes accessible digital services and community-based programs that provide quick and personalized support. Strengthening cooperation between primary care and specialized psychiatry and enhancing mental health training for healthcare workers ensures that effective care is provided on time.

• We establish a therapy guarantee model: We ensure access to therapy services and expand low-threshold mental health support nationwide.We offer crisis help with fast referrals to follow-up care. We ensure smooth access to rehabilitative psychotherapy.
• We secure resources for psychiatric care: We increase mental health expertise across all social and healthcare sectors. Mental health services should be available to people of all ages. We offer free short courses and psychotherapy training for county employees. When necessary, service vouchers can be used to expand care availability.
• We prevent suicides in line with medical guidelines: We train professionals to handle suicide risks and support individuals who have attempted suicide. We establish regional suicide prevention centers in every county.
• We remove barriers to addiction treatment: Substance use should not disqualify individuals from accessing mental health services. Mental health issues often contribute to addiction, so treatment should be integrated.
• We expand rehabilitation services: We improve inpatient rehabilitation while expanding outpatient services. We test safe consumption rooms for drug users.
• We launch mental health ambulance pilot programs: Emergency psychiatric teams provide rapid, specialized crisis support. This reduces pressure on hospital emergency rooms. Mobile crisis services help those who struggle to seek care independently.

Human health and well-being are deeply connected to the state of the environment. The climate crisis, pollution, and environmental changes are causing rising health problems, including increased deaths, worsening chronic illnesses like respiratory diseases, and the spread of new pathogens.

The social and healthcare sector has a large carbon footprint. Measures must be taken to reduce emissions and waste. Sustainability should be embedded in training and education for healthcare and emergency professionals. The Climate Act should be expanded to include counties, with the goal of achieving a carbon-neutral healthcare sector by 2035.

• We reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare: We increase energy and material efficiency. We transition to renewable energy and low-emission transport solutions.
• We use eco-friendly products and medicines: We prioritize environmentally friendly pharmaceuticals. We use less harmful chemicals and locally produced medical supplies.
• We promote sustainable diets and active lifestyles: We encourage plant-based diets and lifestyle choices that support mental and physical health. We leverage the health benefits of local nature.
• We improve waste management and recycling: We enhance waste sorting and pharmaceutical disposal. We reduce single-use products and promote reusable alternatives.
• We develop emergency preparedness for climate-related challenges: We prepare for heatwaves, natural disasters, and climate-related health risks.
• We integrate sustainability into social and healthcare services: Air quality improvements reduce respiratory illnesses and other health issues. We collaborate with municipalities, organizations, and businesses to advance sustainability efforts.
• We educate staff and patients on environmental health: We raise awareness of climate change’s health effects and sustainable lifestyle choices.
• We incorporate sustainable nutrition into welfare services: We halve the use of animal products in county food services.