A society of solidarity involves everyone
The Finnish welfare state is built on solidarity among people. On the idea that every one of us participates and contributes to maintaining the society and, in turn, gets help and support when needed. To function, this equation must treat everyone equally. Services must function everywhere, taxation and fees must be fair, and everyone must have both the right and the duty to participate in building the society according to their ability.
Solidarity tells of mutual fairness: I am ready to give of myself, as I know I will get a fair share back. This works between individuals, in the welfare state, and globally alike. We want this to be the foundation of the Finnish welfare state of the future, too.
The framework of the biggest structural reform, the health and social services reform, has been constructed, but the extent and content of services are defined through practice and the implementation of the reform. We Social democrats want to safeguard health and social services, access to care and necessary support. We are ready to invest in these services and in the people who provide them.
Next, we want to reform the social security system. Social security concerns every one of us through child benefits, various safety nets that accompany us in different periods of life, and the pension system. That is why the social security system reform is also a major question of values.
Services that function for all
- A social security reform that encourages participation and prevents poverty
- Healthcare that genuinely works. Treatment must be available within seven days irrespective of whether the problem is in your knee, heart or mind
- Client fees that do not prevent anyone from getting treatment. Appointments in health centres should be free of charge in the future
- Low-threshold mental health services that are available where people need them
- Better oral healthcare services
- Securing the operational conditions of municipalities and counties in service production
- Recognising the role of organisations in strengthening civil society and safeguarding their operation and resources
Valuable and active old age
- Ensuring the sustainability of the earnings-related pension system and resolutely raising the smallest pensions
- Functioning services for elderly people and housing solutions that correspond to individual needs
- Securing staff ratios in elder care
- Increasing the resources of informal care
Strengthening the rights of disabled persons
Creating a national strategy to safeguard the rights and inclusion of disabled persons
Worlds best family policy
Ensuring the implementation of the Child Strategy by establishing a National Child Strategy Unit
Preventing poverty in families with children by raising the child maintenance allowance and the single parent supplement of the child benefit
Facilitating shared residence and considering the varied family situations in the social security reform
Making the voice of people living alone heard
Establishing a cross-administrative programme to look at the situation of people who live alone and draft an operational programme to improve their situation