The Occupational Health Care Regulation is being revised – what does this change mean for SMEs?
The regulation governing occupational health care is being revised. The reform will take effect on January 1, 2027, and some of the changes to the regulation will be subject to a two-year transition period, during which occupational health care practices will be updated to comply with the new regulations. The change will bring greater clarity to occupational health services and strengthen support for work ability as well as cooperation between the workplace and occupational health services.
The goal is to strengthen the effectiveness of occupational health care, support work ability, and enhance cooperation between the workplace and occupational health services. From the employer’s perspective, the reform clarifies which aspects of occupational health care are required by law and which are voluntary. At the same time, the focus shifts more strongly from individual-centered activities to work at the workplace and organizational levels.
– The regulation emphasizes a needs-based approach, so that occupational health measures are better targeted at identified workplace risks and stress factors. This reduces duplication of effort and ensures that the measures taken yield real benefits. The goal is for occupational health to be not just a provider of individual services, but a strategic partner that, in collaboration with the workplace, helps anticipate and manage work ability risks and delivers measurable value to the client, explains Ilse Rauhaniemi, Chief Medical Officer of Occupational Health.
Preventing work disability risks and maintaining work ability remain central, but at the same time, the employer’s role and responsibility are emphasized more clearly than before. Going forward, occupational health will act as an even stronger partner, helping to identify risks early and target support correctly. This is supported, for example, by easily accessible services such as e-Terveysasema, which enables quick access to services, as well as the self-care programs offered by the Mielenterveystalo, which provide low-threshold support for everyday life.
– The importance of prevention is becoming even more evident. Early support, timely interventions, and easily accessible services help prevent work ability issues before they arise and support the company’s operations in the long term. The change calls for solutions that help identify risks early and target measures correctly, before challenges manifest as reduced work ability or absences. These could include innovations such as the Lifestyle-Related Disease Risk Report, Rauhaniemi notes.
Overall, the regulation supports SMEs by ensuring that occupational health services provide even more concrete benefits in a clearer, more cost-effective, and more impactful way.
