maakuntavaltuustot

Maakuntavaltuustot were regional councils in Finland that existed from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022. They were established as part of the social and health services reform, aiming to organize and provide these services at a regional level. These councils were directly elected bodies, and their primary responsibility was to plan and manage the provision of public health and social welfare services for their respective regions. Each maakuntavaltuusto consisted of members elected by the citizens of the municipalities within its designated area. The number of members varied depending on the population of the region. The councils were responsible for making strategic decisions regarding service production, procurement, and development. They also oversaw the operations of the regional health and social services authorities, known as maakunnan kuntayhtymät. The maakuntavaltuustot represented a significant shift in the administrative structure of Finnish public services, centralizing responsibility for these vital areas to a broader regional level. Their existence was temporary, as the planned larger health and social care reform that would have further solidified their role did not come into effect as initially envisioned.