Helsinki, Finland 2005 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities Brochures of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2005:8 eng ISSN 1236-2123 ISBN 952-00-1890-5 (print) ISBN 952-00-1891-3 (PDF) Cover picture by Andrew Judd/Masterfi le/Kuvapörssi Oy Layout and printed by University Press, Helsinki 2005 Contents Ministry of Social Affairs and Health ................................................... 5 Strategic objectives .............................................................................. 6 Financing social protection ................................................................... 8 Organization ...................................................................................... 10 Administrative Department .......................................................... 11 Ombudsman for Equality ........................................................ 12 Insurance Department .................................................................. 13 Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board ................................................. 14 Health Department ...................................................................... 15 Department for Family and Social Affairs ..................................... 16 Ombudsman for Children ....................................................... 18 Finance and Planning Department ................................................ 18 Department for Occupational Safety and Health ......................... 20 Separate units with special tasks ........................................................ 22 International Affairs Unit .............................................................. 22 Information and Communication Unit ......................................... 22 Advisory Staff ............................................................................... 23 Social and Medical Preparedness and Response Unit .................... 24 Gender Equality Unit ................................................................... 24 The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities ...... 27 National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health ................................................................... 27 National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs ............................... 28 National Public Health Institute ............................................... 29 National Agency for Medicines ................................................. 29 Centre for Pharmacotherapy Development .............................. 30 National Product Control Agency for Welfare and Health ........ 31 Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority ................................... 32 Insurance Supervisory Authority ............................................... 32 Finnish Institute of Occupational Health .................................. 33 Appeal Tribunal ........................................................................ 34 Unemployment Appeal Board .................................................. 34 Advisory boards, committees and councils operating in association with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and appellate levels within the Ministry’s purview ......................... 35 Contact us ...................................................................................... 39 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 5 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health The role of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Finland is to promote the health and functional capacity of the population, secure a healthy living environment, ensure that people can maintain an adequate income, and safeguard social welfare and health care services. The Ministry’s primary function as part of the Government is to man- age and guide the development of social protection, social welfare services and health care services, and the policies covering these areas. It also deter- mines guidelines for this development, drafts legislation and key reforms, guides their implementation and maintains the necessary links with the political decision-making process. The general objectives for social welfare and health care and the meas- ures required for their implementation are set out in a separate Target and Action Plan for Social Welfare and Health Care, which covers the term of offi ce of the Government in power. The development of social welfare and health care services is thus an integral part of the political decision-mak- ing process, and these services form part of the Government’s basic public services programme. The Target and Action Plan represents an agreement on cooperation between local and central government. For the purposes of central government administration Finland is divided into six provinces. The State Provincial Offi ces guide and super- vise social welfare and health care within their own areas of jurisdiction. At local government level, the municipalities are responsible for the actual provision of services. 6 Strategic objectives The strategic objectives for social welfare and health care policy for the next few years can be summarized as follows: • to promote people’s health and functional capacity • to increase the attractiveness of work • to prevent and manage social exclusion • to ensure the provision of effi cient services and reasonable income security. For social wellbeing to be sustained it is essential to focus on independ- ent coping and the maintenance of people’s work ability and functional capacity. The goal is to ensure the continuance of the Nordic welfare state model. The system of social protection in Finland enables and encourages people to be active and assume control over their own lives. Based on the strategic objectives, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has adopted the following general objectives for its work in the next few years: • to fi nance social protection and ensure that incentives are in place • to promote people’s wellbeing at work and to encourage people to extend their working careers • to prevent and stop social exclusion • to promote healthy lifestyles, functional capacity and a pleasant living environment Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 7 • to safeguard social welfare and health care services and improve the effi ciency of care practices • to enhance gender equality • to improve guidance and supervision 8 Financing social protection Finland’s social protection expenditure in 2005 totalled EUR 42.0 billion. One third of this was fi nanced via the State Budget. The total expenditure on social protection accounted for 27.4 per cent of Finland’s GDP; this was below the EU average. Financing of social protection expenditure in 2005* * prediction Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 9 Euros Source: Eurostat Social protection expenditure per capita in selected EU countries in 2002 10 Organization The work of the Ministry is directed by two Ministers: the Minister of Social Affairs and Health and the Minister of Health and Social Services. Their work is supported by the Permanent Secretary and two State Secre- taries, who are the highest civil servants in the Ministry. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has six Departments: Administrative Department Insurance Department Department for Family and Social Affairs Health Department Finance and Planning Department Department for Occupational Safety and Health The Departments are responsible for preparatory work on the key elements of social welfare, health care, social protection and occupational safety and health, and for guiding and coordinating the execution of ac- tivities in these fi elds. The work of the Departments is coordinated by the Ministry’s Executive Group, which is chaired by the Permanent Secre- tary. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 11 The following independent authorities operate in association with the Depart- ments: Ombudsman for Equality Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board Ombudsman for Children Separate units with special tasks: International Affairs Unit Advisory Staff Information and Communication Unit Preparedness Unit (Social and Medical Preparedness and Response) Gender Equality Unit The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health employs approximately 490 people. Administrative Department The Administrative Department is responsible for the Ministry’s gener- al administration and its human resources policy. It also coordinates the Ministry’s provision of performance guidance to the Social and Health Departments of the State Provincial Offi ces, and is in charge of all matters concerning distribution of the Finnish Slot Machine Association’s profi ts and supervision of the Association itself. The Ministry’s Social and Medical 12 Preparedness and Response Unit is also part of the Department and is re- sponsible for emergency planning of social welfare and health care to cope with urgent situations and exceptional circumstances. The Department is divided into the following units: • Administrative Services • Real Estate and Offi ce Services • Information Management • Information Services • Social and Medical Emergency Preparedness and Response • Joint Management Staff The Department’s activities cover: • general administration of the Ministry and related authorities • human resources policy and personnel development • information services • information management • real estate and offi ce services, materials management • emergency preparedness and planning • distribution of profi ts from the Finnish Slot Machine Association, and monitoring of gaming addiction Ombudsman for Equality The Ombudsman for Equality operates as an independent authority in association with the Ministry. The statutory function of the Ombudsman Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 13 is to supervise compliance with the Act on Equality between Women and Men, in particular compliance with the prohibition on discrimination and discriminatory notices. By issuing initiatives, advice and guidance, the Om- budsman for Equality aims to ensure that the full intent of the law is ap- plied in practice. The extent to which gender equality has been realized in different sectors of society is also monitored by the Ombudsman. Insurance Department The function of the Insurance Department is to direct and guide insurance policy and to develop the social insurance legislation and other insurance legislation. The Department deals with matters that concern the Social Insurance Institution and other insurance and pension institutions. It is also in charge of matters concerning the Finnish Centre for Pensions, the Association of Insurance Funds, the Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre, the Patient Insurance Centre, the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Sup- port Fund and the Education Fund. The Department is divided into the following units: • Planning • International Insurance Affairs • Unemployment and Health Insurance • Pension Insurance • Insurance Market • Joint Management Staff 14 The Department’s activities cover: • national pensions and survivors’ pensions • child care allowance • health and maternity insurance • disability allowance • earnings-related pensions • social security contributions • motor third party liability insurance • accident insurance • patient insurance • unemployment security • life assurance and personal insurance • veterans’ pension • non-life insurance • international affairs Agencies and boards subject to the Department’s performance guidance procedures: • Insurance Supervisory Authority • Unemployment Appeal Board • Appeal Tribunal Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board The function of the Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board, which operates in as- sociation with the Ministry, is to confi rm the reasonable wholesale price Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 15 to be approved as the basis for reimbursements made on the costs of me- dicinal products, clinical nutritional products and basic creams covered by the compensation system. A reasonable wholesale price means the maxi- mum price at which the product can be sold to pharmacies and hospitals. In addition, the Board decides whether to approve particular medicinal products for special reimbursement. Health Department The Health Department is responsible for developing and guiding preven- tive health care, health care services, occupational health care and health protection, and for drafting legislation on these areas. The Department is divided into the following units: • Health Services • Health Promotion • Environmental Health and Occupational Health Service • Joint Management Staff The Department’s activities cover: • health services • pharmaceutical service • health care equipment and supplies • health care professionals • state psychiatric hospitals 16 • central government transfers and specifi ed government transfers to health care • health promotion and preventive health care • combating communicable diseases • reduction of smoking and prevention of substance abuse • injury prevention • health protection • chemicals and radiation control • gene technology • occupational health care Agencies and institutions subject to the Department’s performance guidance procedures: • National Agency for Medicines • Centre for Pharmacotherapy Development • National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs • National Public Health Institute • Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority • Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Department for Family and Social Affairs The Department for Family and Social Affairs is responsible for social ser- vices, promotion of social wellbeing, family policy, alcohol and drugs pol- icy, other social policy, and matters concerning social welfare and health Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 17 care planning and central government transfers for social welfare and health care. The Department is divided into the following units: • Social Welfare • Planning and Family Affairs • Joint Management Staff The Department’s activities cover: • preventive social policy • social work • legislation, planning and guidance concerning social work with substance abusers • status of, and social services for, older people and people with disabilities • social assistance and other income security within the social welfare system • farmers’ holiday and stand-in scheme • compensation for military injuries • social services for families, children and young people • family benefi ts • social welfare services legislation concerning families, children and young people • state reform schools 18 • centres of expertise on social welfare, and regional development and coordination of social services • legislation on central government transfers to social welfare and health care Agencies subject to the Department’s performance guidance procedures: • National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health • National Product Control Agency for Welfare and Health Ombudsman for Children The Ombudsman for Children is an independent authority based in Jy- väskylä and operating in association with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The Ombudsman’s duty is to promote the realization of the interests and rights of the child in cooperation with other authorities and with organizations and other similar actors in the sector. Finance and Planning Department The Finance and Planning Department is responsible for preparing and co- ordinating strategies on social protection. The Department also produces reports and analyses required in the decision-making process, and planning and monitoring documents. It coordinates performance guidance and the preparation and implementation of the budget and action plan for the Ministry’s entire administrative sector. The Department also handles the Ministry’s remittances, bookkeeping and payroll computation. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 19 In addition, the Department is responsible for developing the policies and legislation on gender equality, and for participation in the work on equality within the EU, the Council of Europe and the UN, and among the Nordic countries. The Department is divided into the following units: • Finance • Accounting • Planning • Research and Development • Gender Equality • Joint Management Staff The Department’s activities cover: • strategic planning • planning and development of social protection • budget and action plan for the Ministry’s administrative sector • coordinating the performance agreements of agencies and institutions under the Ministry • analyses concerning income security and social and health conditions • statistical and information systems on social welfare and health care policy • research and development • gender equality 20 • payroll computation and accounting • EU fi nancial administration that falls within the Ministry’s fi eld of jurisdiction • EU social protection issues Department for Occupational Safety and Health The Department for Occupational Safety and Health is responsible for drafting and developing the occupational safety and health legislation and national policy on occupational safety and health, for coordinating research and for participating in international cooperation on occupational safety and health. The Department is also responsible for performance guidance of the District Administration for Occupational Safety and Health, which supervises occupational safety and health, and for performance guidance of other authorities and establishments under the Ministry in matters of occupational safety and health. Occupational safety and health also covers the terms and conditions of employment relationships, the physical, social and mental demands of work, and the functioning of workplace communities. Occupational safety and health services are designed to enhance wellbeing at work. Priorities in occupational safety and health include the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, promotion of employees’ mental wellbeing at work and the prevention of accidents in the workplace. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 21 The Department is divided into the following units: • Development • Field Operations • Legislation • Administrative Resources Operating in association with the Legislation unit is a section for em- ployment law and the Board for Ratifi cation of the Validity of Collective Agreements. The Department’s activities cover: • occupational safety and health and its supervision • wellbeing at work • control of products used at work • general applicability of collective agreements • District Administration for Occupational Safety and Health • Finnish Work Environment Fund Agencies subject to the Department’s performance guidance procedures: 8 Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorates 22 Separate units with special tasks International Affairs Unit The International Affairs Unit operates as a separate unit outside the con- trol of the Ministry’s Departments. The Unit deals with matters that concern the development, planning and coordination of international affairs management within the Min- istry’s administrative sector, and the Ministry’s representation in bodies dealing with international cooperation. The Unit is responsible for coordination of EU-related matters, for improving the management of EU matters within the Ministry, for general coordination within the framework of the Government’s work on EU af- fairs and for relations with EU institutions and Member States. The Unit’s coordination duties cover the activities of the UN and its specialized agen- cies (especially the World Health Organization), other international co- operation on social and health issues at global level, Nordic cooperation, cooperation related to the Northern Dimension and regional councils, co- operation with neighbouring countries and bilateral cooperation. Information and Communication Unit The Information and Communication Unit operates as a separate unit un- der the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary. The Unit is responsible for the Ministry’s internal and external provision of information and for developing Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 23 this work, for coordinating and developing the Ministry’s communications and those of the agencies and institutions under it, and for supporting the Ministry’s Departments and separate units in their communications. The Unit also supports the Ministry’s management of basic functions and internal cooperation, guidance within the Ministry’s administrative sector and work with stakeholders. Its work is intended to present an overview of the Ministry’s objectives, strategies and action for the employees of the Ministry and for its customers, stakeholders and ultimately the general public. The Unit is responsible for developing and coordinating the Minis- try’s publishing activities and online communications. It publishes Socius, a social welfare and health care journal appearing six times a year, and the English-language Socius Finland, which appears a few times a year. The latter is published in collaboration with the International Affairs Unit and is intended for the Ministry’s international stakeholders. It also produces online versions of Socius and Socius Finland and is responsible for internal communications, including the intranet. Advisory Staff The Advisory Staff is a separate unit that is directly subordinate to the Permanent Secretary. The unit’s function is to assist the Permanent Secretary and support his/her work in planning, realizing and supervising wide-ranging or other- wise important matters. In matters of strategic planning and monitoring, 24 the unit operates in cooperation with the Finance and Planning Depart- ment. The unit is also responsible for monitoring the execution of the Government Programme, supporting cooperation within the Ministry’s administrative sector, and developing the process of drafting legislation. Social and Medical Preparedness and Response Unit Emergency social welfare and health care plans to cope with urgent situ- ations or exceptional circumstances within the Ministry’s administrative sector are managed, supervised and coordinated by the Ministry in co- operation with the Social and Health Departments of the State Provincial Offi ces. The Ministry’s Social and Medical Preparedness and Response Unit was set up under the Administrative Department for the purposes of emergen- cy planning. The Unit has specialist expertise and provides guidance and development initiatives for social welfare and health care emergency plan- ning. It develops and coordinates the resources required to meet not only exceptional circumstances but also disruptive situations occurring under normal circumstances, and maintains arrangements for situation manage- ment and security. Gender Equality Unit The Gender Equality Unit is located in the Ministry’s Finance and Plan- ning Department. It is responsible for drafting and developing the gender Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 25 equality legislation and the Government’s equality policy, managing tasks concerning gender equality mainstreaming and the equality law and poli- cies of the EU, and other international equality issues. The General Secretary of the Council for Gender Equality is based in the Gender Equality Unit. 26 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 27 The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities A number of independent agencies and institutions operate in the admin- istrative sector of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. They produce research data for use in drafting legislation, formulating social and health policy and as a basis for decision-making. Some are also responsible for issuing licences and permits and for supervision. These organizations em- ploy more than 3,400 people. An Executive Group comprised of senior management representatives from the Ministry and the agencies and institutions under it coordinates the work of these agencies and institutions. Each year, the Ministry draws up a performance agreement with nine agencies and institutions, eight Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorates and two boards. Agree- ments are also made with the State Provincial Offi ces and the Finnish Slot Machine Association. National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health The function of the National Research and Development Centre for Wel- fare and Health is to promote the wellbeing and health of the population at large and the social welfare and health care services. It does this through research and development and by maintaining information resources. 28 The Centre also evaluates changes affecting wellbeing and health and the consequences for welfare policy. Its work enhances national expertise on wellbeing and establishes a sound basis for the operation of the country’s social welfare and health care sector. The Centre has four divisions: Health and Social Services, Promotion of Wellbeing and Health, StakesInformation, and Administration. There are also two other units: International Development Collaboration, and Regional and Municipal Consulting. For more information: www.stakes.fi National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs The function of the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs is to grant licences to health care professionals and to supervise their activities and thereby promote patient safety and the quality of health care services. The Authority also maintains the National Register of Healthcare Profession- als, which contains the records of more than 300,000 health care profes- sionals. In addition, the Authority’s work covers the following areas: pregnan- cy termination, sterilization, forensic psychiatry, medical use of human organs and tissue, medical research, and any duties prescribed for the Au- thority in the legislation on establishing cause of death. The Authority operates three separate boards discussing and resolving matters concerning supervision of health care professionals, forensic psy- chiatry, and pregnancy termination and sterilization. For more information: www.teo.fi Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 29 National Public Health Institute The National Public Health Institute promotes the potential for people to lead a healthy life. It is responsible for providing decision-makers, profes- sionals in different fi elds, and the general public with the best available information to support their choices. The Institute has ten departments: Department of Bacterial and In- fl ammatory Diseases; Department of Epidemiology and Health Promo- tion; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology; Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research; Department of Viral Diseases and Immunology; Department of Molecular Medicine; Department of Health and Functional Capacity; Department of Environmental Health; Depart- ment of Vaccines; and Internal Services. The Institute’s units are based in Helsinki, Kuopio, Oulu and Turku. For more information: www.ktl.fi National Agency for Medicines The function of the National Agency for Medicines is to ensure that me- dicinal products on the Finnish market are effective and safe for users, and are of good quality. The Agency also maintains and promotes the safe use of health care equipment, supplies and blood products, and is responsible for the general planning of pharmaceutical services. Aside from ordinary users of medicinal products and health care equip- ment and supplies, and ordinary users of blood products, the Agency’s main customers also include businesses and other operators that deal with 30 medicines and health care equipment, as well as health care profession- als. The Agency also supervises medicines and health care equipment in increasingly close cooperation with other EU countries and international organizations. Close collaboration is also conducted with other authorities in Finland in matters such as classifi cation, medicinal product imports, veterinary medicines, consumer protection and equipment supervision. For more information: www.nam.fi Centre for Pharmacotherapy Development The Centre for Pharmacotherapy Development is a specialist unit op- erating in association with the National Agency for Medicines. The Centre is responsible for promoting and improving the health of the Finn- ish population, which it does by collecting and disseminating information to promote rational pharmacotherapy, and by supporting implementation of this in practice. Rational pharmacotherapy means pharmacotherapy that is effective, safe, cost-effi cient and appropriate, also from the patient’s viewpoint. The Centre was set up in 2003 and its principal target group con- sists of primary health care doctors, as it is this group that deals with a substantial proportion of all medical prescriptions. The Centre also helps health centres to organize workshops for their personnel, in which doctors review their own prescription practices together with other health care professionals. In addition to the training and development work taking place in health centres, the Centre for Pharmacotherapy Development Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 31 produces medicinal evaluations, mainly of new medicines whose use it is felt should be carefully targeted. For more information: www.rohto.fi National Product Control Agency for Welfare and Health The mission of the National Product Control Agency for Welfare and Health is to prevent and reduce the adverse health effects of alcoholic products, tobacco and chemicals on the population at large and to pro- mote a safe and healthy living environment. The Agency also has the task of implementing the Ministry’s strategy for promoting people’s health and functional capacity, which it pursues through its licence administra- tion, supervision and lobbying, and through issuing guidance for regional and local administration. Guidance for businesses is also a key part of the Agency’s work. The Agency’s infl uence on people’s living and working en- vironments and on lifestyles and conditions that are detrimental to health is evident through its work on evaluating and monitoring risk factors and providing information on these. The Agency is divided into three departments: the Alcohol Administra- tion Department, the Chemicals Department and the Administrative De- partment. It also has an Alcohol Product Control Unit, a Chemicals Product Register Unit, a Data Administration Unit and an Environmental Health Care Unit. In addition, the Agency maintains a gene technology register. For more information: www.sttv.fi 32 Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority The aim of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority is to protect people, society, the environment and future generations from the harmful effects of radiation. The Authority supervises and monitors the country’s nuclear power plants, nuclear materials and nuclear waste, and the use of radiation and radioactive substances in health care, industry, research and teaching. It also continuously monitors radiation levels in the environment. As part of its emergency planning, the Authority is ready to respond to any observations, reports or incidents that could endanger the safety of people or the environment. Where necessary, it issues recommendations and instructions for combating the hazard in question and for reducing the detrimental effects. The Authority’s work is divided into the following areas: nuclear safe- ty, safety of radiation use, research, environmental radiation surveillance, communications, emergency planning and commissioned services. For more information: www.stuk.fi Insurance Supervisory Authority The aim of the Insurance Supervisory Authority is to ensure the sound functioning of insurance and pension institutions and to maintain confi - dence in the insurance system. Through supervision and inspection, the Authority seeks to ensure that the organizations under supervision have adequate solvency, appropriate Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 33 internal control and risk management systems, and reliable governance. The Authority is also responsible for monitoring compliance with the law and with good insurance practices in the organizations under supervision. The Authority is divided into the following departments: Financial Supervision, Market Affairs, Supervision of Unemployment Benefi t Provi- sion, and Administration and Internal Services. For more information: www.vakuutusvalvonta.fi Finnish Institute of Occupational Health The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health is a multidisciplinary re- search and expert organization that promotes occupational health and safety and the wellbeing of employees. Through its research, training, specialist services and information provision, the Institute offers solutions for the needs of working life. Multidisciplinary research guarantees that problems are examined from a wide perspective. The Institute operates in six locations, namely Helsinki (head offi ce), Kuopio, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Tampere and Turku, and it employs a total of about 800 people. It is an institution under public law subordinate to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The Institute also works closely with the World Health Or- ganization as a Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, and with the International Labour Organization. For more information: www.ttl.fi 34 Appeal Tribunal The Appeal Tribunal operates as an appeals body comparable to a special social insurance court. It is the fi rst appellate level in matters concerning national pensions and pensioners’ housing allowance, and the rehabilita- tion, child care allowance, disability allowance and general housing allow- ance matters dealt with by the Social Insurance Institution. The Board is the highest appellate level in matters concerning health insurance, child benefi t, child home care allowance, private child-care allowance, mater- nity grant and conscript’s allowance. The Board has a full-time chairman, three vice chairmen and 18 mem- bers, each with a personal deputy. The Government appoints the chair- man, vice chairmen, members and deputies for a maximum of four years at a time. The Board has four sections for deciding on appeals. Each of these has a chairman trained in law and members comprising a doctor, a lawyer and a person acquainted with the circumstances of the insured. For more information: www.tarkastuslautakunta.fi Unemployment Appeal Board The Unemployment Appeal Board is a social insurance appellate authority for matters concerning unemployment security. It functions as the fi rst ap- pellate level in matters related to unemployment allowance, labour market support, training allowance, membership of unemployment funds, social benefi ts for students taking adult labour market training, adult education Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 35 allowance, vocational study grants, job-alternation allowance and pay se- curity. The Board has a chairman and vice chairmen, and members who are lawyers, doctors and labour market representatives. Each of these serves with the responsibility of a judge. Cases are determined in three different sections, each of which has a chairman, two labour market members and three lawyer members. When handling a case that rests heavily on medical issues, one of the lawyer members is replaced by a doctor. If a case is a mat- ter of principle or if the solution could diverge from previously established practice, it will be determined at a plenary session of the Board. For more information: www.stm.fi Advisory boards, committees and councils operating in association with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and appellate levels within the Ministry’s purview Within the purview of the Advisory Staff: • Advisory Board on Veterans’ Affairs in Finland Within the purview of the Administrative Department: • Advisory Board for Health and Welfare in Emergency Conditions 36 Within the purview of the Insurance Department: • Actuaries’ Examination Board • Advisory Board for Ageing and Pensioners’ Affairs • Earnings-Related Pension Appeals Board • Environmental Insurance Board • Expert Group of the Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board • Health Insurance Advisory Board (in association with the Social Insurance Institution) • Insurance Funds Board (in association with the Association of Insurance Funds) • Insurance Mediation Board • Occupational Accidents Compensation Board • Patient Injuries Board • Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board • Social Insurance Appeal Boards • Traffi c Accident Board Within the purview of the Department for Family and Social Affairs: • Advisory Board on Centres of Excellence on Social Welfare • Advisory Board on Conciliation in Criminal Matters • Advisory Board on Early Childhood Education and Care • Advisory Board on Romani Affairs • Advisory Board on Social Work • Advisory Committee on Intoxicant and Temperance Affairs • Finnish Board of Inter-Country Adoption Affairs • National Council on Disability Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 37 Within the purview of the Health Department: • Advisory Board for Biotechnology • Advisory Board for Public Health • Advisory Board for Health Care Professionals (in association with the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs) • Advisory Board for Rehabilitation • Advisory Board on Communicable Diseases • Advisory Board on Occupational Health Care • Advisory Board on the Centre for Pharmacotherapy Development (in association with the National Agency for Medicines) • Advisory Committee for the Prevention of Home and Leisure Accidents • Advisory Committee on Chemicals • Advisory Committee on Radiation Safety • Board for Gene Technology • Board for Forensic Psychiatric Affairs (in association with the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs) • Board for the Supervision of Health Care Professionals (in associa- tion with the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs) • Board on Termination of Pregnancy and Sterilization Affairs (in association with the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs) • Committee for Health-Enhancing Physical Activity • Committee on the Safety, Effi cacy and Quality of Medicines of the National Agency for Medicines 38 • Committee on the Safety, Effi cacy and Quality of Veterinary Medicines of the National Agency for Medicines • National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics • Supervision Committee of the National Agency for Medicines Within the purview of the Finance and Planning Department: • Council for Gender Equality • Equality Board Within the purview of the Department for Occupational Safety and Health: • Advisory Board on Wage Statistics in Forestry • Advisory Committee on Occupational Chemical Safety • Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health • Advisory Committee on Preparation of Occupational Safety Regulations • Board for Blasters Training • Board for Ratifi cation of the Validity of Collective Agreements Appellate levels within the Ministry’s purview • Accident Appeal Board • Appeal Tribunal • Unemployment Appeal Board Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 39 Contact us Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Meritullinkatu 8 phone +358 9 16001 00170 Helsinki, fax +358 9 160 74126 PO Box 33, FIN-00023 Government Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department for Occupational Safety and Health Uimalankatu 1 phone +358 9 16001 33540 Tampere fax +358 9 160 72511 PO Box 536, FIN-33101 Tampere fi rstname.lastname@stm.fi www.stm.fi National Public Health Institute Mannerheimintie 166 phone +358 9 47 441 FIN-00300 Helsinki fax +358 9 4744 8408 fi rstname.lastname@ktl.fi www.ktl.fi 40 National Agency for Medicines Mannerheimintie 13 b PO Box 55 phone +358 9 473 341 FIN-00301 Helsinki fax +358 9 714 469 fi rstname.lastname@nam.fi www.nam.fi Centre for Pharmacotherapy Development Mannerheimintie 103 b PO Box 55 phone +358 9 4733 446 FIN-00301 Helsinki fax +358 9 4733 4431 fi rstname.lastname@rohto.fi www.rohto.fi National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health Lintulahdenkuja 4 PO Box 220 phone +358 9 39 671 FIN-00531 Helsinki fax +358 9 761 307 fi rstname.lastname@stakes.fi www.stakes.fi Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 41 National Product Control Agency for Welfare and Health Säästöpankinranta 2 A PO Box 210 phone +358 9 396 7270 FIN-00531 Helsinki fax +358 9 3967 2797 fi rstname.lastname@sttv.fi www.sttv.fi Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority Laippatie 4 PO Box 14 phone +358 9 759 881 FIN-00881 Helsinki fax +358 9 7598 8500 fi rstname.lastname@stuk.fi www.stuk.fi Appeal Tribunal PO Box 330 phone +358 9 160 01 FIN-00531 Helsinki fax +358 9 160 74107 www.stm.fi National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs Lintulahdenkatu 10 PO Box 265 phone +358 9 772 920 FIN-00531 Helsinki fax +358 9 7729 2138 fi rstname.lastname@teo.fi www.teo.fi 42 Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A phone +358 30 4741 FIN-00250 Helsinki fax +358 30 4742 779 fi rstname.lastname@ttl.fi www.ttl.fi Unemployment Appeal Board PO Box 124 phone +358 9 16001 FIN-00531 Helsinki fax +358 9 160 74445 www.stm.fi Insurance Supervisory Authority Mikonkatu 8 PO Box 449 phone +358 9 415 5950 FIN-00101 Helsinki fax +358 9 4155 9660 fi rstname.lastname@vakuutusvalvonta.fi www.vakuutusvalvonta.fi Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorates Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Uusimaa Paasivuorenkatu 3 PO Box 46 phone +358 9 774 711 FIN-00531 Helsinki fax +358 9 730 798 fi rstname.lastname@tsp.stm.fi www.tyosuojelu.fi Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 43 Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Turku and Pori Eerikinkatu 40-42 phone +358 2 271 5777 FIN-20100 Turku fax +358 2 271 5778 fi rstname.lastname@tsp.stm.fi www.tyosuojelu.fi Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Häme Uimalankatu 1 PO Box 272 phone +358 3 260 8800 FIN-33101 Tampere fax +358 3 260 8899 fi rstname.lastname@tsp.stm.fi www.tyosuojelu.fi Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Southeast Finland Villimiehenkatu 2 B PO Box 145 phone +358 20 747 0500 FIN-53101 Lappeenranta fax +358 20 747 0529 fi rstname.lastname@tsp.stm.fi www.tyosuojelu.fi Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Vaasa Kauppapuistikko 20 B PO Box 172 phone +358 20 123 6200 FIN-65101 Vaasa fax +358 20 123 6229 fi rstname.lastname@tsp.stm.fi www.tyosuojelu.fi 44 Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Central Finland Ailakinkatu 17 PO Box 119 phone +358 14 697 211 FIN-40101 Jyväskylä fax +358 14 697 341 fi rstname.lastname@tsp.stm.fi www.tyosuojelu.fi Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Eastern Finland Vuorikatu 26 A phone +358 17 201 401 FIN-70100 Kuopio fax +358 17 201 410 fi rstname.lastname@tsp.stm.fi www.tyosuojelu.fi Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate of Northern Finland Tutkijantie 2 D PO Box 229 phone +358 8 315 9511 FIN-90101 Oulu fax +358 8 315 9599 fi rstname.lastname@tsp.stm.fi www.tyosuojelu.fi Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 45 Social and Health Departments of State Provincial Offi ces State Provincial Offi ce of Southern Finland Hämeenlinna Offi ce Birger Jaarlin katu 15 PO Box 150 phone +358 2051 6121 FIN-13101 Hämeenlinna fax +358 2051 62068 Helsinki Regional Service Unit Ratapihantie 9 PO Box 110 phone +358 2051 6131 FIN-00521 Helsinki fax +358 2051 63297 Kouvola Regional Service Unit Salpausselänkatu 22 PO Box 301 phone +358 2051 6141 FIN-45101 Kouvola fax +358 2051 64120 State Provincial Offi ce of Western Finland Turku Offi ce Itsenäisyydenaukio 2 PO Box 22 phone +358 2051 7121 FIN-20801 Turku fax +358 2051 72322 46 Jyväskylä Regional Service Unit Cygnaeuksenkatu 1 PO Box 41 phone +358 2051 7141 FIN-40101 Jyväskylä fax +358 2051 74346 Pori Offi ce Satakunnankatu 5 PO Box 129 phone +358 251 75001 FIN-28101 Pori fax +358 251 75004 Tampere Regional Service Unit Uimalankatu 1 PO Box 346 phone +358 2051 7131 FIN-33200 Tampere fax +358 2051 73600 Vaasa Regional Service Unit Wolffi ntie 35 PO Box 200 phone +358 2051 7161 FIN-65101 Vaasa fax +358 6 3174 817 State Provincial Offi ce of Eastern Finland Kuopio Regional Service Unit Hallituskatu 12-14 PO Box 1741 phone +358 2051 6171 FIN-70101 Kuopio fax +358 2051 67170 Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and related authorities 47 Mikkeli Offi ce Maaherrankatu 16 PO Box 50 phone +358 2051 6161 FIN-50101 Mikkeli fax +358 2051 66146 Joensuu Regional Service Unit Torikatu 36 PO Box 94 phone +358 2051 6181 FIN-80101 Joensuu fax +358 2051 68019 State Provincial Offi ce of Oulu Linnankatu 3 PO Box 293 phone +358 2051 7181 FIN-90101 Oulu fax +358 2051 78224 State Provincial Offi ce of Lapland Valtakatu 2 PO Box 8002 phone +358 2051 7171 FIN-96101 Rovaniemi fax +358 2051 77750 State Provincial Offi ce of Åland Torggatan 16 PO Box 58 phone +358 18 635 270 FIN-22101 Mariehamn fax +358 18 635 268 48