Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy supports incorporation of Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s commercial vaccine research services

At its meeting on 13 October 2020, the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy discussed the incorporation of the commercial vaccine research services of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and their transfer to a new state-owned company with a special assignment to be established for this purpose.

The new arrangement was motivated by tensions concerning the impartiality and neutrality of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. The Chancellor of Justice investigated the neutrality of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s vaccine procurement procedure and issued a decision on 10 May 2019. In his decision, the Chancellor of Justice considered it justified to make a clearer distinction between vaccine research funded by pharmaceutical companies and the drafting of decisions and decision-making on vaccine purchases in order to ensure neutrality and impartiality. Based on the reports looking into the matter, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health decided to continue preparations for the incorporation of commercial vaccine research services. The proposed solution would separate the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s commercial vaccine research from vaccine procurements and would also create the conditions for strengthening vaccine research at the national level.

The Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy supported the incorporation of the commercial vaccine research services of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the establishment of the special assignment company and the related state capitalisation. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will continue its preparations on the matter so that it can be dealt with in connection with the supplementary budget for 2021.

Inquiries: Niina Kiviaho, Senior Specialist, [email protected], tel. +358 50 306 1809