The basic skills of healthcare and social welfare professionals are based on programmes leading to a vocational qualification, the completion of which entitles them to practise their profession. For the sake of client and patient safety, it is essential that healthcare and social welfare professionals are properly trained and have a licence to practise and that this is controlled by public authorities.
– Tehy has continuously emphasised the extensiveness and importance of the reform and that it cannot be carried out in a hurry. Through advocacy, we succeeded in gaining more time for the preparation process, which is very much necessary, says Tehy President Millariikka Rytkönen
In Tehy’s view, the regulation of professionals must continue to take place primarily through the Act on Health Care Professionals. Current healthcare and social welfare professionals must also remain professionals within the meaning of the Act on Health Care Professionals after the reform.
– The changes need to be carefully considered, as this is a piece of legislation that will affect both those working in the healthcare and social welfare sector and their patients and clients. People need to know that the person taking care of them is a trained professional whose competence has been confirmed and is regulated by law, says Rytkönen.
Last week, the Ministry’s working group announced that the Ministry is only working on individual changes to the existing legislation on healthcare and social welfare professionals at this stage. This also ensures that the preparation of the broader overall reform will continue beyond the current parliamentary term.
Enquiries: Administrative Director of Tehy Sari Viinikainen, tel. +358 40 779 3637, [email protected]