The four-party alliance government led by Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) has taken an initiative to restrict the healthcare rights to the undocumented immigrants.
The government proposed amendments to the respective acts with the provision for annulling the statutory obligation to organise essential non-urgent healthcare services in addition to urgent care for third-country nationals staying or residing illegally in the country as referred to in the Aliens Act, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release on Thursday.
The government proposed the Parliament amend the Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services, the Act on Cross-Border Health Care and the Act on Organising Healthcare, Social Welfare and Rescue Services in the Region of Uusimaa.
The proposed amended acts are scheduled to enter into force on October 1, 2025.
According to the government proposal, the Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services would be amended so that the wellbeing services counties, the City of Helsinki and the joint county authority for the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (the HUS Group) would no longer have a statutory obligation to organise essential non-urgent healthcare services in addition to urgent care for third-country nationals staying or residing illegally in the country.
However, essential non-urgent care based on an individual medical assessment of a person’s needs should be organised, if denying the care would be manifestly unreasonable considering the person’s health status or disability. Such care should also be provided for the person if denying it would seriously endanger the health of another person or the population or the wellbeing of a minor for whom the person is responsible.
The wellbeing services counties, the City of Helsinki and the HUS Group would still be responsible for organising healthcare services related to pregnancy for women staying or residing illegally in the country.
Furthermore, children should receive necessary healthcare services to the same extent as the residents of the wellbeing services counties. Unfinished care initiated for a person as a minor should be continued until completion even if the person has come of age.
The Government also proposed that the Act on Cross-Border Health Care specify that the Social Insurance Institution of Finland continues to be obliged to reimburse the wellbeing services counties, the City of Helsinki and the HUS Group for any care provided to third-country nationals staying or residing illegally in the country.
Moreover, the Act on Organising Healthcare, Social Welfare and Rescue Services in the Region of Uusimaa would be made more specific.
The proposed amendments are based on those entries in the programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo led four-party alliance government.
The proposal is included in the budget proposal for 2026.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
