Wellbeing services counties of Finland
The Wellbeing services counties (, , , Inari Sami: pyereestvaijeemkuávlu, Skolt Sami: pueʹrrvââjjamvuʹvdd) are responsible for organising health, social and emergency services in Finland. There are 21 Wellbeing services counties and the county division is mainly based on the region division. The public authorities are separate from the municipalities and from the central government. The Wellbeing services counties are self-governing. They do not have the right to levy taxes and their funding is based on central government funding. The central government allocates different amounts of funding to the different Wellbeing services counties, depending on the structure of their population. A Wellbeing services county may also perform functions in its territory that support its statutory functions, such as international activities and the protection of the mutual interests of the counties. It may carry on a low-risk business in its territory or in conjunction with another county that supports the performance of its statutory functions. The counties may carry out their functions jointly under an agreement. The forms of cooperation are a joint institution, a joint office, an agreement on the performance of official duties and a welfare consortium. The business of a consortium can only be the provision of support services. Organisational responsibility cannot be delegated to a consortium. History 
The Wellbeing services counties are following the social reform initiated by the Marin Cabinet. On 23 June 2021, the Parliament approved the bills on social and health care reform. According to the law on the implementation of the reform, the tasks and organisational responsibility for social and health care services and rescue services were transferred from the municipalities to the counties on 1 January 2023. The first council elections were held in January 2022. In order to implement regional cooperation and an appropriate service structure, five cooperation areas were formed from the counties, corresponding to the special areas of responsibility of the university hospitals. The establishment of the Wellbeing services counties was one of the most important administrative reforms in Finnish history. According to the government, the reform was necessary to ensure equality of service, reduce inequalities in health and well-being, and control cost growth. Responsibilities 
The responsibilities of Wellbeing services counties include:

 Primary health care
 Specialised health care
 Social welfare
 Services for children, young people and families
 Services for people of working age
 Mental health and substance misuse services
 Services for people with disabilities
 Student welfare services
 Emergency services
 Pre-hospital emergency medical services

The cooperation between the counties and municipalities focuses on promoting health and well-being, thereby reducing the need for health and social services. In addition, private operators and organisations and associations can complement public health and social services. The municipalities are responsible, for example, for day care for children, education, sport and culture. Administration 
The highest decision-making body in the wellbeing county is the County council, which is responsible for the operation, administration and finances of the welfare area. The delegates and deputy commissioners of the county council are elected in the county elections for a four-year term. The number of delegates ranges from 59 to 89, depending on the population of the county. 59 councillors: Central Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, East Uusimaa, South Karelia, South Savo, Kymenlaakso, North Karelia, Kanta-Häme, Ostrobothnia, Lapland, South Ostrobothnia
 69 councillors: Central Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme, Satakunta, North Savo, Central Finland and Vantaa-Kerava. 79 councillors: North Ostrobothnia, West Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa

List of the Wellbeing services counties 

There will be 21 Wellbeing services counties in Finland:
 Lapland wellbeing services county
 North Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county
 Kainuu wellbeing services county 
 Central Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county 
 Central Finland wellbeing services county
 North Savo wellbeing services county
 North Karelia wellbeing services county
 South Savo wellbeing services county
 South Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county 
 Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county 
 Kanta-Häme wellbeing services county
 Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county
 Satakunta wellbeing services county
 Southwest Finland wellbeing services county 
 West Uusimaa wellbeing services county
 Central Uusimaa wellbeing services county
 East Uusimaa wellbeing services county
 Päijät-Häme wellbeing services county
 Kymenlaakso wellbeing services county
 South Karelia wellbeing services county 
 Vantaa-Kerava wellbeing services county

In addition, the City of Helsinki (22.) and the autonomous Region of Åland (23.) will remain outside the Wellbeing services counties, exercising similar competences on their own. See also 

Counties of Finland
2022 Finnish county elections

References 

Subdivisions of Finland
Regions of Finland