The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has amended the decree on the prescription of medicines so that in the future, it will also be possible for a nurse to prescribe medicines through remote and telephone appointments, to a limited extent. The amendment entered into force on 8 June 2026.
The amendment is related to the digitalisation of social welfare and health care services and the strong growth in the use of remote services. The aim is to streamline access to care and enable the appropriate division of work between employees.
The reform applies to nurses, public health nurses and midwives who have special qualifications in prescribing medicines. In the future, they may also prescribe medicines covered by limited prescribing rights through remote and telephone appointments.
The range of medicines and their indications will remain unchanged, and the change will not expand the scope of nurses’ prescribing right. The qualification requirements or the conditions for prescribing medicines will not change either. The right still requires separate qualifications, as well as a written order from the Division’s responsible physician, in which the scope of prescribing is specified.
Effects of the change on the permitting procedure of the Finnish Supervisory Agency
The Finnish Supervisory Agency handles permit applications for a nurse's limited right to prescribe medicines. The Agency will continue to ensure that applicants meet the requirements for special prescribing qualifications and that the granted right complies with the Decree. The change does not affect the competence of the Agency or the permitting procedure, but it also enables the exercise of the granted right through remote and telephone appointments.
The change does not require a notification of changes to the Finnish Supervisory Agency if the previously granted order remains unchanged. When the Division remains the same (OID code does not change), medicines with limited prescribing rights can also be prescribed through remote and telephone appointments without a separate notification to the Finnish Supervisory Agency.
The reform supports the development of legislation concerning social welfare and health care professionals
The reform is part of the broader development of legislation concerning social welfare and health care professionals, as well as the Good Work programme, which aims to strengthen the availability of personnel and target competence appropriately.
Excerpt from the official page. The original is authoritative.