The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the social benefits agency Kela have urged the next government to tackle a decline in health and fitness amongst people living in Finland that is reducing the ability of some people to work and function in daily life.
In a report published on Tuesday, the agencies proposed a tax on sugar, fat and salt to curb health problems negatively impacting the population's ability to work and function.
The Finnish population saw a rapid upward trend in working and functioning ability that started in the 1970s, but that positive trend stalled in the 2010s and then started to decline.
People's ability to work and function have increasingly been affected by common ailments including cardiovascular disease, mental health problems, obesity, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, smoking and substance abuse.
THL and Kela said this trend must be brought to a halt, as it threatens the country's economic and social sustainability.
"With an ageing population, we need to find ways to get as many people of working age as possible into work. This requires the promotion of work and functional ability at all ages. Particular attention must be paid to those who have accumulated various problems," Markku Tervahauta, Director General of THL, said in a press release.
In the review, THL and Kela presented a range of measures to improve health, wellbeing and ability to function among the general population.
They added that improving basic mental health and substance abuse services and suggested that Finland should increase taxes on products containing sugar, salt and fat.
The report also highlighted concerns with the rise in depressive symptoms among young people and poverty affecting families with children.
The wellbeing report was commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health ahead of upcoming government negotiations.
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