What we do
We defend well-being, health, and safety
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is an independent state-owned expert and research institute that defends the well-being, health and safety of the population. THL’s duties are established in the Finnish legislation. Our key duty is to carry out research and expert work to
- prevent illnesses and social problems
- develop the welfare society
- support the social welfare and health care system and the social security system.
In addition:
- We serve as a statistical authority and maintain statistics and registers in our field.
- We provide social and health care services and forensic medicine services for which the state is responsible.
- We steer the national information management in social welfare and health care services, including the development of systems aimed at processing the health and welfare data of the Finnish citizens.
We operate in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
In terms of administration, THL operates under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The Director General of THL is Mika Salminen, Doctor of Philosophy. Our main funding sources include funding from the state budget, co-funded activities and services subject to a fee.
We produce information and solutions for stakeholders
We provide our stakeholders with information and solutions to build a more equal, equitable, and sustainable society. We have identified six drivers of change in our operating environment that guide our work and help us anticipate future developments. The drivers of change are:
- A changing international operating environment
- Planetary health and well-being
- Declining trust in the future among children and young people
- Capable wellbeing services counties
- Changing needs of population groups
- Knowledge management and new technologies.
We serve a wide range of different operators, including decision-makers in central government, municipalities, wellbeing services counties, local government officials and social welfare and health care professionals on matters related to health and safety.
We foster cooperation and good practices between different operators in defending health and well-being.
We communicate on health and safety issues to the entire population.
We succeed together
We cooperate closely with various operators, such as different organisations and both Finnish and international research communities.
THL is a recognised and desirable partner in projects involving domestic as well as international scientific cooperation. Each year, approximately 700 THL-produced articles are published in numerous scientific publications. Half of the articles are written in collaboration with international partners.
THL's roots stretch back through 200 years of Finnish history
The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) was established in 2009 when the Public Health Institute (KTL) and the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (Stakes) were merged. However, THL’s roots go back to over 200 years of organizational development, involving several mergers and name changes.
The history of the Public Health Institute stretches back to the State Serum Institute, founded in 1911. In 1970, the institute was reformed when seven regional laboratories were merged into it, creating the Public Health Laboratory. In 1982, the laboratory changed its name to the Public Health Institute, and its tasks expanded to include research and expert work.
Stakes traces its origins to the National Board of Health, one of Finland’s oldest government agencies, which operated under various names from 1811 to 1991. The earliest predecessor of the National Board of Health was the Collegium Medicum, formed by five professors of Royal Academy of Turku. The National Board of Social Welfare was first established in 1918, dissolved in 1922, and re-established in 1968. In 1991, the National Board of Health and the National Board of Social Welfare were merged into the National Board on Social and Health Affairs, which was dissolved in 1992 when Stakes was established.