Clean and fresh indoor air promotes health and well-being. However, in some cases indoor air can contain pollutants that may cause a variety of symptoms and reduce well-being. Individual exposure agents can also increase the risk of certain diseases. The problems related to indoor air are broad and complex and development is required in numerous areas.
The Finnish indoor air and health programme develops new evidence-based metohds, perpectives and solutions for solving problems related to indoor air.
The programme’s key stakeholders are people who suffer from symptoms and illnesses, organizations in the social welfare and health care sector, social welfare and health care services, occupational health and safety professionals, health protection services, municipalities, other authorities, research institutions, businesses, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, trade unions and employer organizations, the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and the Finnish Ministry of the Environment, among others.
Beneficiaries of the programme include all people who have symptoms associated with indoor environments, including school pupils and other users of public premises, employees and employers, municipalities and provinces, health care services, occupational health care services, health protection services, occupational safety and health services, and ultimately the whole population.
Goals
The primary, long-term objective is to reduce hazards to health and well-being linked to indoor environments in Finland. To fulfill this objective, the programme will focus on the promotion of human health and well-being, the prevention of hazards, improved communication, and engage the health-care sector to manage better patients’ symptoms and complaints.
The ten-year programme consists of four areas that aim to:
- Increase understanding of the effects of indoor environments on health and well-being.
- Develop the management of problems linked to indoor environments.
- Improve the treatment and working and functional capacity of people with symptoms and illnesses.
- Strengthen the competence in matters related to indoor environments.
Implementation
The measures of the Finnish indoor air and health programme are implemented in two phases.
Phase I (2018–2022) included the launch of measures that were deemed to be the most important or most impactful during the design phase. During the past five years, the programme has produced, among other things, a lot of information material and guidance for the use of the authorities, experts, and the population.
Phase II (2024–2028) focuses on making sure that the vast number of produced guidelines and training material will be recognized and implemented in the municipalities as well as in the private sector.
A final evaluation of the programme will be carried out in 2027–2028.
Funding
Healthy Premises 2028, the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Partners
The programme is coordinated by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The partners are Finnish Lung Health Association (Filha ry), The Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland, The Finnish Allergy, Skin and Asthma Federation and Finnish Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate.
Contact details
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