NordenBladet — The transition period for the Act on the Secondary Use of Health and Social Data will be extended by one year. The requirements laid down in the Act for a secure user environment would not be applied until 1 May 2022. Initially, the requirements were meant to be applied as from 1 May 2021.The Act will enter into force on 1 September 2021.The intention is not to apply the requirements of the Act for a secure user environment until the key operators in the sector have been able to audit their secure user environments.However, under the Act, data may be disclosed to a permit holder for processing purposes before 1 May 2022, even if the data permit application does not specify a secure user environment for the processing of data as referred to in the Act. In this case, the disclosure of data requires a fixed-term data permit that is valid no longer than until 30 April 2022. In addition, the transition period will be changed so that the rights, obligations and measures laid down in the Act which are based on significant clinical findings will be applied from 1 January 2024. Secure user environment safeguards the protection of personal data A secure user environment plays a significant role in the prevention of misconduct and the implementation of cyber security. A high level of data security also gives Finland a competitive edge, because it proves that Finland sees to the protection of sensitive personal data properly. The EU General Data protection Regulation also requires sufficient safeguards for the processing of sensitive personal data.What does the secondary use of health and social data mean?The secondary use of health and social data means that the client and register data generated in connection with healthcare and social welfare activities are used for purposes other than the primary reason for which they were originally saved.The secondary uses under the Act include scientific research, statistics, development and innovation activities, guidance and supervision by the authorities, planning and reporting duties of the authorities, teaching and knowledge management.The purpose of the Act is to enable the effective and secure processing of both personal data saved in connection with healthcare and social welfare activities and personal data saved for the purpose of guidance, supervision, research and statistics in the healthcare and social welfare sector. The Act also seeks to secure the legitimate expectations, rights and freedoms of individuals in the processing of personal data.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The first Citizens’ Jury for assessing climate action was convened in Finland in 2021. The Citizen’s Jury, commissioned by the Climate Policy Roundtable and Ministry of the Environment of Finland, discussed the fairness and impact of the national climate measures.At the Ministry of the Environment, the involvement of citizens in policy preparation is an established practice . Traditional consultations are often targeted to people who are active in a certain field, and to the same people over and over again. In terms of the acceptability of climate measures, however, it is important to also give a voice to people who usually do not participate in consultations.Citizens’ Jury drew up a statement on the fairness of climate actionsThe task of the Jury was to assess the measures to be included in the new Climate Change Policy Plan that extends until 2035. The focus in the discussions was on emission reduction measures concerning housing, mobility and food that are particularly relevant for individual citizens, and on how just and effective they are likely to be.The members of the Jury learned about the topics to be discussed from background material and presentations by experts from different fields. The Jury deliberated on the information received and different perspectives on climate measures in small groups and joint discussions. The Jury convened three times in online meetings and drew up its own statement on the topics discussed.Here is one example of the general observations made by the Jury:“Consumers must be strongly and clearly informed about the measures concerning the economy so that people in all income classes know how to apply for support and deductions or otherwise take into account the new changes affecting their economy. Guidance by information must be offered comprehensively, e.g. climate education starting in primary and lower secondary education. This should include clear and brief justification for the measures concerning the economy to improve the citizens’ awareness of these matters. Especially people with lower income and older people should be duly taken into account in the provision of information concerning financial support.”

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Finns have returned more unused medicines to pharmacies and collection points. Expired and unused medicines should be taken back to the pharmacy, as they burden the environment when flushed down the drain or thrown in trash or they may end up in the wrong hands. The two-week-long Lääkkeetön Itämeri campaign (drug-free Baltic Sea) starts today, on 26 August, when we celebrate the Baltic Sea Day.According to the report by Clear Waters from Pharmaceuticals (CWPharma) project1, there are major differences in the practices of collection and disposal of unused medicines in the Baltic Sea countries. The report says that two thirds of Finns returned unused medicines to pharmacies or collection points in 2009 and 2010. The Finnish record has been among the best when compared to the other Baltic Sea countries. The report gathered information about the ways consumers dispose of unused medicines in Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Sweden, and Russia.According to the latest survey2 made in Finland in 2019, about 90% of Finnish adults took their unused medicines to a pharmacy. The results show that there has been an improvement in the medicine waste disposal practices in recent years.“Even though Finland is a trendsetter in the Baltic Sea region in the disposal of household pharmaceutical waste, we still have room for improvement. Medicines thrown in trash or flushed down can end up in the soil, inland waterways, and the Baltic Sea, increasing their pharmaceutical burden. Numerous studies have also shown that once in the waterways, the medicines have an impact of the behaviour, reproduction, and living conditions of different animal species. When medicines are disposed of incorrectly, this can also increase the number of antibiotic resistant bacteria,” says Development Manager Taina Nystén from Finnish Environment Institute.Over 800 pharmacies across Finland accept unused medicinesThe drug-free Baltic Sea campaign takes place now for the fourth time to remind people of how easy it is to return expired and unused medicines: there are over 800 pharmacies in Finland which accept unused medicines.“This year, we want to encourage everyone to make cleaning the medicine cabinet a routine and to remind everyone that it is easy and free to return medicines to pharmacies in Finland. We are concerned about the Baltic Sea and other waterways, and our goal is, of course, that in the near future, 100% of Finns would return their expired and unused medicines to pharmacies,” says Brand Manager Elina Aaltonen from the Association of Finnish Pharmacies.The drug-free Baltic Sea is an annual campaign arranged by several organizations. The campaign is implemented by communications agency Cocomms, and this year, it has been made possible by the Association of Finnish Pharmacies, GSK, John Nurminen Foundation, Pharma Industry Finland, Mehiläinen, Oriola, Orion, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Tamro, Yliopiston Apteekki, and Ministry of the Environment. Finnish Environment Institute is the campaign’s expert and John Nurminen Foundation its patron.Check list: How to dispose of your medicines correctly1. Which medicines should be returned to a pharmacy?Return medicated plasters, solid and liquid medicines, inhalers, tablets, and capsules as well as tubes which still contain medicine.2. How to return the medicines?Take the tablets and capsules out of their packaging and put them in a see-through bag. Put creams, aerosols, and inhalers in a bag without their prescription label. Leave liquid medicines in their original container and put them in a separate bag. Fold medicated plasters so that their adhesive surfaces are against each other before putting them in a bag. Remove the prescription label from plastic and cardboard packages and take them to their own recycling collection points. Return all plastic bags to a pharmacy.Always return the following in a bag of their own:medicines containing iodinecytotoxins in their original packaging, handed to a member of pharmacy personnelsyringes and needles in an impenetrable container, such as a bottle or jar. Ask your pharmacy how to dispose of insulin needles in your area.mercury thermometers3. What does not need to be returned?For example, base creams, dietary supplements, or natural products can be disposed of in mixed waste.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on the policy guidelines for information management in healthcare and social welfare. The deadline for submitting comments is 15 September 2021.The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health started preparing policy guidelines for information management in healthcare and social welfare in March 2021. In this context, policy guidelines refer to extensive guidelines or planning decisions approved or issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health which concern certain development targets relating to information management and digitalisation. Such guidelines or decisions also make it possible to assess development work retrospectively. The policy guidelines were prepared to guide and plan ongoing development work and, in particular, to support the preparation of the health and social services reform. The policy guidelines for information management in healthcare and social welfare are grouped as follows:the common guidelines, the guidelines for the processing of client and patient data (the primary use of data) the guidelines for data processing for the purpose of guidance, knowledge management and supervision (the secondary use of data), and the guidelines for self-care and self-management of health. The policy guidelines will affect a number of operators, and they are fundamental and long-term in nature. In future, the guidelines will be binding in the development of information management. They must be followed when making project plans and evaluations relating to information management. If a deliberate decision is made to deviate from the guidelines, the deviation must be justified. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health maintains the policy guidelines for information management in healthcare and social welfare and reviews their content annually to ensure they are up to date. Any necessary changes will be made in accordance with the annual planning cycle of information management and as part of the Ministry’s enterprise architecture guidance and planning. Before approving the guidelines, the Ministry requests feedback and views on them. Feedback can be submitted between 25 August and 15 September 2021.Feedback can be submitted on the lausuntopalvelu.fi website (service for online consultation available in Finnish and Swedish). 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Yannick Glemarec, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), will visit Finland from 30 to 31 August.The Green Climate Fund is one of the main channels of Finland’s international climate financing. During his visit, Executive Director Glemarec will meet with Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Krista Mikkonen, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Elina Kalkku and several Finnish leaders in climate, environmental and development policy.Dr. Glemarec will have a discussion with Leif Schulman, Director General of the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and Eeva Furman, Director of the Environmental Policy Centre on research data in the sector and innovations promoting a carbon-neutral, resource-efficient society. The Director General will also meet with representatives from the Inter-Party Energy Reform Group of the Finnish Parliament. Glemarec will meet with Permanent Under-Secretary Leena Mörttinen from the Ministry of Finance to discuss sustainable development funding, while his meeting with Special Representative Pekka Morén will focus on the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.Finland is known around the world for its high level of expertise in meteorology. During his visit, Glemarec will visit the R&D and innovation centre of Vaisala, a company that manufactures environmental measurement equipment and systems, and he will also meet with experts from the Finnish Meteorological Institute. What is the Green Climate Fund (GCF)?The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the world’s largest climate fund and the official financing mechanism of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The main objective of the Fund is to support low-carbon and climate-resilient development in developing countries. As a party to the UN Climate Conventions, Finland is committed to international climate efforts. Finland has allocated a total of EUR 100 million to the first replenishment of the GCF for 2020–2023. The funding for the GCF is equally targeted at climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. As a result of extreme weather phenomena, the need for adaptation financing has increased significantly, especially in the world’s poorest countries. The urgency of the measures is highlighted in the report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 9 August, which found that climate change is progressing faster than previously estimated.The first replenishment period of the GCF is currently under way. A total of 177 projects and programmes have been approved so far. They are expected to bring increased resilience to 500 million people and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. In 2020, GCF projects were implemented in 77 different countries.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Helga Schmid will visit Helsinki on Friday 27 August at the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto. Schmid will also have discussions with President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö.The themes of discussion will include Finland’s support to the OSCE as well as topical issues in the OSCE, mediation, arms control, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the human-rights situation in Belarus, and the Ukraine conflict. During her visit, Secretary General Schmid will meet, for example President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö. The OSCE is a central forum for European security. The activities of the OSCE are based on the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which was signed in 1975, in Helsinki.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On Wednesday 25 August, the Climate Policy Roundtable discussed the EU’s Fit for 55 package, which presents the means that will enable the EU to reduce its emissions by at least 55% by 2030.The members of the Roundtable considered the 55 package as an important and necessary opening. It was also seen to support Finland in achieving its own carbon neutrality target and to bring opportunities for Finnish companies. The implementation of the package will increase the demand for sustainable solutions, which will benefit Finland as a country with high-level competence and technologies.However, the Roundtable also stressed the challenges associated with the broad scope of the package and the complexity of climate policy in general. The management of the package as a whole and identification of all the interconnections and combined impacts is a demanding task that requires intensive dialogue across the administrative branches and constant impact assessments.The proposals of the Fit for 55 legislative package concern tightening the targets and regulation of emissions trading and extending it to new sectors, effort sharing between countries, social fund, renewable energy and energy efficiency, emission limits for motor vehicles, role of the land use sector, and carbon border tax and energy taxes. The Roundtable discussion also contributed to the process this autumn where the Government together with the Parliament will formulate its position on the proposals.The Climate Policy Roundtable considered the strengthening and extension of emissions trading as important and welcome. Stronger carbon pricing creates predictability and ensures that emissions will be reduced. The emission reduction target set for Finland in effort sharing between Member States was considered challenging but attainable and necessary. Setting up a Social Climate Fund was also supported, with certain reservations. The purpose of the fund would be to promote the possibilities of citizens who are in the weakest position to improve energy efficiency and use clean transport. The topics discussed also included certain issues specific to Finland related to e.g. winter navigation and utilisation of biomass.The Roundtable stressed that, in estimating the costs of the measures, it is also important to consider what the costs would be if no measures were taken. From the perspective of EU citizens and consumers a just policy is one that helps everyone to reduce their own emissions. Justice between the EU countries is further enhanced by the fact that the climate measures of the EU extend to a larger number of systems than before.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The reform of chimney sweeping services, which entered into force in 2019, has not led to a significant increase in the prices of the services. On the other hand, sweeping intervals have lengthened slightly. These conclusions are presented in a study commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior from the University of Eastern Finland.“The results of the study that has now been completed and the observations made by the monitoring group for the reform set up by the Ministry of the Interior are similar and support each other,” says Jaana Rajakko, Senior Engineer from the Ministry of the Interior.The University of Eastern Finland examined how the legislative amendments concerning chimney sweeping have affected the functioning of the market and consumer prices and the fulfilment by properties of the chimney sweeping obligation. In the study project, the University of Eastern Finland analysed the content of the websites of chimney sweeping companies and the development of fires in buildings. The study also carried out surveys of both chimney sweeping companies and rescue departments.“According to the study project, the implementation of the chimney sweeping reform has been quite successful and there have been no unexpected effects,” says Professor Anssi Keinänen from the University of Eastern Finland.Chimney sweeping services were opened up to competition in 2019The chimney sweeping services were reformed at the beginning of 2019 when the district sweeping system and the related price regulation came to an end. With sweeping services opened up to competition, sweeping service providers can now offer their services anywhere, without geographical restriction and without price regulation. The owner or occupant of a building can purchase chimney sweeping services from the provider of their choice and compare the services in their area, for example with regard to the price. Chimney sweeping service providers must comply with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act in the marketing of their services.All the effects of the legislative reform are not yet visible, but based on the study it seems that the carrying out of chimney sweeping in buildings has slightly declined. In practice, this is reflected in longer intervals between sweeping. However, the number of fires related to fireplaces and flues has remained at an earlier level. In addition, defects detected in fireplaces and flues are reported less frequently by chimney sweeping companies to rescue departments, even though the regulation of the reporting obligation has not changed.The prices of chimney sweeping services have not increased significantly since the legislative reform, taking into account the general inflation rate. On the other hand, the prices charged for services of chimney sweeping companies may not be available on their websites, even though consumers should be aware of the price of a service even before the service is provided.Competition between chimney sweeping companies increased in densely populated areasSince the end of the district sweeping system, new companies have entered the sector. In many cases, the new entrepreneur has previously worked as an employee of a chimney sweeping company. Competition between chimney sweeping companies has increased the most in densely populated areas. Chimney sweeping companies are still small, but their areas of operation have expanded. As a result of the legislative reform, some chimney sweeping companies have increased the marketing of their services.The views of chimney sweeping companies on the success of the legislative amendments are divided. In particular, chimney sweeps feel that property owners have not understood their responsibility to hire a chimney sweep to sweep fireplaces and flues on a regular basis. However, rescue departments, in general, considered the reform to be successful.More communication needed about the chimney sweeping obligation of propertiesIn the coming years, attention should be paid to the attractiveness of the sector so that chimney sweeps and chimney sweeping services continue to be widely available in the future as well. When defects are detected during sweeping that pose a risk of fire, the information should be reported to rescue departments better than occurs at present. There is still a need to communicate more effectively about the chimney sweeping obligation of properties.The Ministry of the Interior will submit a written report to Parliament on the implementation and follow-up of the legislative amendments by the end of this year. The report to be submitted to Parliament will be based on the results of the study by the University of Eastern Finland and on the follow-up findings of the monitoring group for the reform. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has appointed a long COVID expert group to monitor and analyse the information and experience gathered both nationally and internationally about the long-term effects of COVID-19, also known as long COVID.  People have reported many different types of long-term symptoms, and even inability to work and function, after recovering from the COVID-19 infection. More and more research-based information and experience about long COVID are becoming available both in Finland and internationally.Research data and expert views need to be coordinated nationally and analysed jointly by experts so that we can react and take measures in a way that is proportionate and based on accurate information.The term of the expert group runs from 1 September 2021 to 31 December 2022. The group will be chaired by Risto O. Roine, Professor of Neurology. The members were invited to the group on the basis of their consent.Members and tasks of the expert group (appointment decision), in Finnish

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 25–27 August, the Europe Forum 2021 in Turku will gather Finnish opinion-makers and citizens to discuss Finland’s role in Europe. The event will offer a wide range of discussions on the future of the EU and the position of Finland and the EU in the changing world order. During the Forum, the Ministers and public officials of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will contribute as speakers to events organised by other parties. In addition, on Friday 27 August the Foreign Ministry’s Europe Information will organise a discussion event on the future of an open Europe.On Thursday 26 March, the future of the EU’s export policy and the opportunities offered to Finnish companies will be discussed at an event organised by the Turku Science Park, to be held at Radisson Blu Marina Palace at 14.15. The keynote speaker is Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.On Friday 27 August, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will participate in a discussion on the relations between the EU and Russia organised by the Paasikivi Society of Turku, which will start at Virastotalo at 11.15. How are the European Union and Russia seeking their place in the changing world order? Will the conflicts continue or is there a chance to develop a mutual understanding?Foreign policy themes will also be discussed at the seminar ‘Stability and prosperity: European policy as part of Finland’s foreign and security policy’ at Radisson Blu Marina Palace on Friday 27 August at 13.00. The event will start with a keynote speech by Minister Haavisto concerning the role of Finland and the EU in the world where the relations between superpowers are changing. In addition, Kai Sauer, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, will participate in a panel discussion on the EU’s relations with the United States.Also on the agenda on Friday is a discussion on the future of free movement after the COVID-19 crisis, organised by Europe Information of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.  Free movement, one of the EU’s major achievements, has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.  What does the future look like after the crisis? Speakers at the event are Senior Researcher Saila Heinikoski from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Member of the European Parliament Sirpa Pietikäinen and Ninni Norra, Finnish Citizens’ Representative at the Conference on the Future of Europe. The event will start at Radisson Blu Marina Palace on Friday 27 August at 16.00.Because of the coronavirus situation the number of people present will be restricted, but all discussions of the Europe Forum can be viewed live at https://europeforum.fi/en/live/. Europe Forum Turku promotes diverse discussion on the EU.Organised for the fourth time, Europe Forum Turku offers an open platform for social dialogue, where the focus is on Finland’s present and future role in Europe and in the European Union.“The Europe Forum is already a tradition that people know to look forward to and that has a place of its own among Finland’s summer events. It offers an excellent opportunity for a wide and varied discussion on topical and international issues,” Minister Haavisto says.Recently the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the association Europe Forum in Turku agreed on a long-term partnership where the Foreign Ministry will support this annual event in 2021–2023. The common goal for the partners is to promote a diverse and interesting EU discussion of a high quality.Follow the discussion on Twitter using hashtag #EurooppafoorumiProgramme of Europe Forum Turku: https://europeforum.fi/en/programme/Press release, 12 August 2021: Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Europe Forum Turku will intensify cooperationhttps://um.fi/press-releases/-/asset_publisher/ued5t2wDmr1C/content/ulkoministerio-ja-turun-eurooppa-foorumi-tiivistavat-yhteistyotaan 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi