County elections in January determine health and social services in your region
Photo: Getty Images
The first county elections will be held on 23 January 2022. The elected members of the county council will decide how and where health and social services are provided. You don’t have to be a citizen to vote in the county election.
The aim of the health and social services reform (called sote-uudistus in Finnish) is to ensure that everyone in Finland has equal access to high-quality health and social services. Therefore, responsibility for all health, social and rescue services will be transferred from 310 municipalities to 21 autonomous wellbeing services counties from the beginning of 2023.
The City of Helsinki will continue to organize the services for its residents, and therefore county elections are not held in Helsinki. More information at vaalit.fi/en/county-elections
Who can vote?
The right to vote in county elections is determined in the same way as in municipal elections:
• 18 years or older on election day.
• Citizen of Finland, other Nordic Country or EU Member State with residence in municipality 51 days before election.
• Non-EU citizen who has been resident in Finland for two years without interruption.
Did you know that…
The wellbeing services counties are going to responsible for all health, social and rescue services for their residents, such as:
• primary health care
• maternal and child health clinics
• hospitals and specialized health care
• dental care
• care services for the elderly
• services for people with disabilities
• mental health services
• social services
• child protection services
• fire and rescue services
Why should all PAM members vote in the county elections?
“The county elections in January are decisive for the future of health and social services and rescue services. Each one of us uses these public services at some point in our lives. Who is not familiar with visiting a maternity clinic, a health centre or a nursing home, for example? Health and social services are there for us, from child to grandparent.
The level of services very much depends on whether you get treated on time or whether an ambulance comes quickly in an emergency, for example. These are things that the regional councillors who are elected can influence. It really does matter who is making the decisions in the regional councils on services that affect us all.
In the municipal elections in the spring, PAM emphasised smooth-running everyday life. The county elections are also about properly functioning everyday life. We want everyone to get the everyday services they need on time. It is important to go out and vote so that the voice of service sector workers is heard in the decisions made by the wellbeing services counties. The provision of services must take account of people in different life situations.
I am sure that the skills and aspirations of PAM members are needed when deciding on health and social services in the wellbeing services counties.”
Annika Rönni-Sällinen
PAM President
