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Home NATIONALRäty leaves for Singapore
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Tue, 10 Feb, 2015 02:52:13 AM
FTimes Report, Feb 10
 
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Laura Räty. File Photo Lehtikuva.
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Laura Räty on Monday began her three-day visit to Singapore to attend ministerial meeting on health, said an official press release.
 
The theme of the meeting is healthcare coverage and equal and reasonably priced access to healthcare.
 
Finnish exports in the health and care sector will be promoted during the visit of the minister.
 
Finland and Singapore share many common challenges, such as ageing population. Of the Finnish population, every fifth has already reached the age of 63. 
 
In Singapore, on the other hand, 20 per cent of the population will reach the age of 65 in 2030. Therefore, the need for new innovations utilising health technology in care services for older people is great, especially as it is desirable to support the ability of elderly people to live at home as long as possible.
 
The aim of the Team Finland part of the trip is to familiarize Singaporeans with Finnish expertise in the health and care sector. A diverse group of companies represent Finnish top expertise in that sector. 
 
Finland has been profiled as a country with high-level health technology where health care is of good quality and efficient, but when compared with competitor countries Sweden and Germany, a lot can still be done to improve exports promotion.
 
"In international markets, Finland is one of the players among many others. We must function as a team to be able to attract investments to Finland and, similarly, to get more trade abroad for Finnish companies", said Räty.
 
During the trip, the minister will also meet her Singaporean counterpart Gan Kim Yong and Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Education & Ministry of Manpower Hawazi Daipi.
 
The subjects of the one-on-one meetings include challenges related to population ageing.
 
The discussions also consider the International Labour Organization's (ILO) new programme, the aim of which is to help developing countries to improve working conditions as well as reduce accident risks and occupational diseases. Finland will participate in the programme as a founding member.
 
Räty will also take part in a panel discussion about home care for the elderly. For achieving equal, comprehensive and reasonably priced health care, Finland emphasises the role of services and prevention. 
 
"In Finland, we want to support healthy ageing with high-quality and timely services. Also development of technology has an important part to play in supporting independent lives. Apart from being a humane and valuable alternative, enabling elderly people to live at home for as long as possible is also a saving for society",  the minister said.
 
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