Finland tightens language proficiency requirements for foreign nurses and doctors
The Finnish government is planning stricter language proficiency requirements for foreign healthcare professionals. The goal of the reform is to ensure that doctors and nurses working in Finland have sufficient Finnish or Swedish language skills to guarantee patient safety.
According to the new rules, healthcare workers must demonstrate their language proficiency more clearly before they begin working. According to the authorities, good language skills are an essential part of high-quality care, as they help employees understand patients and act correctly in various care situations.
The changes particularly affect professionals coming from outside the EU and EEA area. Currently, Finland is experiencing a shortage of nursing staff, but the government emphasizes that patient safety is always the primary concern. Tightening language proficiency requirements is part of a broader effort to improve the quality of healthcare.
The reform has sparked discussion about how it will affect recruitment and the nursing shortage. The government is currently preparing more precise details on how the language proficiency level will be measured and how the transition period will be organized. The goal is for the new regulations to enter into force in the near future.