Steering of information management THL’s steering of information management in the health and social services sector establishes shared rules for defining, processing and utilising data. In practice, this includes, for example, THL defining nation...

Outlook for the development of information management The development outlook for information management in health and social services describes the long‑term direction for how data and its use will evolve. The operating environment of health and ...

Information management in health and social services Information enables an effective and sustainable health and social services system. Health and social care information management refers to the ways in which data in the health and social servic...

Steering of Health and Social Care Information Management Head of Unit Niina Haake The core tasks of the unit are: To steer and develop information management in healthcare and social welfare at the national level in cooperation with stakeholders....

RAI benchmarking for data-driven management On this page Who is the guideline for? This guideline is intended for managers and experts who utilize RAI benchmarking data. It supports the use of RAI information in frontline management, inter-organiz...

Promoting health and well-being – Municipal management On this page Positive development in health promotion within municipal management Municipal management and central administration play a significant role in promoting the health and wellbeing ...

Information security THL’s information security policy defines the principles followed within the institute to ensure the secure use, processing, storage, and disposal of data. The organisation’s information security is managed by identifying the ...

RAI benchmarking for data-driven management – EasyRAIder databases The EasyRAIder databases are tools for supporting the development of an organisation’s operations. The EasyRAIder databases are intended for service providers and service organiser...

The project examines the possibilities of utilising data accumulated outside the service system in health and wellbeing promotion management.

Knowledge‑based management strengthens the social and health care services Effective and equitable social and health care services are built on decisions that rely on up‑to‑date and reliable information. The responsibility of the wellbeing service...

RAI benchmarking for data-driven management – RAI benchmarking reports RAI benchmarking reports are tools for developing the operations of care units. RAI benchmarking report is intended for service providers and organizers to support the monitori...

Updated: Thu May 21 13:19:16 EEST 2026 Quality report: Promotion of Health and Wellbeing in Municipal Management – TEA 2025 Data description Statistical presentation The data on the promotion of health and wellbeing in municipal management, collec...

RAI benchmarking for data-driven management – Frequently asked questions How do I access RAI benchmarking reports and other RAI benchmarking databases? RAI benchmarking reports THL's RAI benchmarking reports are available to healthcare and social ...

RAI benchmarking for data-driven management – RAI database for service purchaser The RAI database for service purchaser is a tool for service purchasers to analyse purchased service units. The RAI database for service purchaser is intended for the...

Information Steering of the Service System Head of Unit Mikko Peltola The unit strengthens information steering of the healthcare and social welfare service system by producing relevant, reliable, and comparable data as a basis for steering and de...

RAI benchmarking for data-driven management – RAI database for service organiser The RAI database for service organiser is a tool for service organisers to support regional-level analysis. It is intended for the Wellbeing service county to review ...

Courses related to the promotion of wellbeing and health – Knowledge-based management for promoting wellbeing and health Course description and learning objectives This online training course strengthens skills in knowledge-based management and th...

Information guides the future of child welfare Published 4.12.2025 The views expressed in the blog posts are the writers' own and do not represent the official position of the institution. Attendees of the National Child Welfare Days in Jyväskylä ...

Mediation service for criminal and civil cases – Contact information All mediation offices in Finland are listed on this page by region. More detailed contact information for the mediation offices is available on their websites. Lapland and Northe...

THL’s data repository responds to phenomenon-based information needs THL has a statutory duty to collect information on the population’s wellbeing and health, as well as on their use of social and health care services. This information is widely u...

Wastewater analysis provides information on drug use across the country Wastewater analysis is a way to monitor drug use at the population level without conducting research on individuals. THL has monitored the drug situation in Finland using wast...

16.6.2026 | The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) are deepening their cooperation. An agreement on a new type of collaboration was signed in Kuopio on 16 June.

EUDA's Finnish focal point collects and analyses information on Finland’s drug situation and disseminates drug-related information.

27.5.2026 | According to a recent report, continuity of care can be improved by developing information management, harmonising documentation practices and making wider use of digital solutions and artificial intelligence.

Adequate and equitable support secures informal care Informal care replaces a significant share of home care in the wellbeing services counties and delays the need for round-the-clock service housing. The costs of contractual informal care for adu...

THL supports regional projects that promote the health, wellbeing and functional capacity of older people and informal carers and studies their impacts.

10.2.2026 | THL is ready to take responsibility for implementing a new national data and permit function focusing on the utilisation of health data. The report published today by Sitra proposes that a national health data space be established in Finland. This would bring together health data infrastructure, licensing and research, development, and innovation activities. This is based on the opportunities provided by artificial intelligence for the utilisation of data.

11.5.2026 | The financing model for wellbeing services counties requires further development, and the work should examine, among other things, the incentives in the current model, the demographic model and the counties’ taxation rights, according to THL. The institute has published its own proposal for the further development of the financing model in the coming years.

The Healthy Finland survey provides information on the health, well-being and service use of people living in Finland and on changes in them.

Research on services for older people produces information on the need for services, how they are implemented, their adequacy, quality, effectiveness, and resources.

Monitoring of Services for Older People produces up-to-date and comparable information on the quality and implementation of services for older people to support national monitoring.

27.4.2026 | Efforts to prevent violence in the wellbeing services counties have developed in a positive direction in many respects over the past two years, according to a recent survey conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). At the same time, regional differences remain considerable, and in particular the weakening of coordination structures and the lack of services for perpetrators threaten the effectiveness and continuity of this work.

The National health index is a set of indicators that contains information on population morbidity and work disability in municipalities, wellbeing services counties, and cooperation areas.

The syringe residue analysis study provides laboratory-verified information on the prevalence of substances used by injection and changes over time.

Coordination and support for implementation definition of data content and development requirements, development of secondary use of task information from social and crisis emergency services.

11.6.2026 | According to the latest results from the National Health Index, rates of work disability are on the decline among the population in Uusimaa while primarily increasing elsewhere in Finland. Morbidity, however, is changing in different ways in different diagnostic categories. For example, the occurrence of coronary disease is declining in all of Finland while diabetes and sleep apnoea are on the rise nationwide. Mental health also remains a concern.

28.4.2026 | The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has published its proposals for the programme of Finland’s next government, which will begin its term next year. The proposals aim to strengthen people’s psychological resilience in times of crisis. Good physical and mental health, social wellbeing and a well-functioning society all contribute to resilience.

The project produced information on the health, well-being, service needs and factors affecting integration of the immigrant population.

25.6.2026 | In the development of social and health care, there is now a need to place greater emphasis on services and on improving their effectiveness, according to THL. This includes, among other things, defining the scope of services that publicly funded social and health care system should provide in general. So far, cost savings and public finance perspectives have been emphasised in the development and steering of the system.

The MoniSuomi survey aims to provide reliable and up-to-date information on the foreign-born population living in Finland.

CAREFIT examines how physical activity promotes the health and functional capacity of older family caregivers and how caring responsibilities affect participation in a physical activity programme.

8.6.2026 | Family centres and meeting place activities have become established in Finland’s wellbeing services areas and are now more closely linked to goals for the wellbeing of children, young people and families. The next phase of development is to assess whether service integration leads to more timely services for families with children and how it strengthens effectiveness, according to a recent report by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

29.5.2026 | The number of households receiving supplementary social assistance increased in 11 wellbeing services counties and decreased in 12. The number of households receiving preventive social assistance increased in eight counties and decreased in 14.

24.6.2026 | “In Finland’s comprehensive security, the key question is how we manage together – not just how I manage alone,” said Director General Otto Helve at SuomiAreena. Mental resilience is a central part of comprehensive security. It refers to the ability of individuals, communities and society to withstand the strain of crises and recover from their impacts.

3.6.2026 | The latest statistics on access to treatment from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) show two diverging trends. In primary health care, patients experienced longer waiting times for access to treatment in 2025. In specialised health care, however, the number of patients waiting a long time for treatment decreased significantly.

5.5.2026 | The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has published a Comprehensive Security Review containing more than one hundred policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Finland’s security and the population’s crisis resilience. The recommendations address mental crisis resilience, health security, social welfare and health care, and social security. The work was prompted by significant changes in the security environment.

10.12.2025 | The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has launched the Health Foresight online service. Based on past development and possible future scenarios, the service offers forecasts related to population morbidity, functional capacity and work ability limitations as well as the risk factors affecting them, such as lifestyles.

26.3.2026 | The 2026 Public Health Award has been granted to Children of the Station and the Cancer Society of Finland in recognition of their significant and long-term efforts to promote the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

19.5.2026 | The number of children aged 0–2 who were taken into care increased by 9% in 2025.  A total of 292 children were taken into care in 2025. The number of children under 3 receiving support in open care increased by 10%.

16.6.2026 | Service needs assessments in child welfare continue to be completed mainly within the statutory timeframe, and fewer and fewer social workers have too many clients. According to THL, monitoring of statutory time limits must not be discontinued, because it helps ensure that children and families receive the support they need in a timely and equitable manner throughout the country.

4.6.2026 | According to the Youth Nutrition Survey conducted by THL, 67% of young people aged 12–20 reported consuming energy drinks at least occasionally, 42% at least once a week, 15% 3–5 times per week, and 6% daily or almost daily. Consumption levels were similar among girls and boys. Many young people who consume energy drinks report feeling dependent on them or otherwise feel they drink too much.

21.10.2025 | The wellbeing services counties have achieved a better balance in their finances and found new ways of securing their services in a difficult situation, explains the annual assessment of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on the organisation of healthcare and social welfare services. 

28.5.2026 | Domestic violence shelters are increasingly full, and clients must more often be referred from the nearest shelter to another location. In 2025, approximately 2,400 clients were referred from a primary shelter to another shelter. The year before, the number was approximately 1,300, which is clearly lower. The occupancy rate of shelters was 73 per cent last year. The data are based on the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s (THL) domestic violence shelter statistics.

29.4.2025 | The number of open care clients in child welfare has begun to decline. In 2024, there were 34,900 children as open care clients in child welfare, a decrease of 9 per cent from 2023. 

Registry and Archive – List of tasks This page lists THL’s most common tasks. The list helps you gain a clearer understanding of the types of information processed by THL. Using the task categories, you can further specify your information request...

Operational Steering Head of Unit Maria Ojaluoma The Operational Steering unit is responsible for the THL’s management system, operational steering, development governance, and information management. It supports staff competence development and p...

Blog In our blog, our experts comment on current topics, interpret the significance of societal phenomena, and present new perspectives and solution proposals. THL’s official position is presented by the institute’s leadership. Previous blog posts...

Organisation THL's management team is in charge of the overall management of the institution. In addition to the Director General, the management team includes the RDI Director, the Communications Director and all the directors of departments. THL...

Registry and Archive – Description of document publicity This is a document publicity description pursuant to Section 28 of the Act on Information Management in Public Administration (906/2019). Its purpose is to facilitate the submission of infor...

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