Central Finland welfare region abandons social services information system project due to delivery issues

The Central Finland welfare region has decided not to implement a new customer information system for social services, which was initially scheduled for deployment by the end of the year. The abandonment of the project is due to the welfare region’s determination that the system’s delivery did not meet the order specifications. There have been issues with both the timing and the content of the system.

According to Ari-Pekka Paananen, the IT director of the Central Finland welfare region, preparations for the new system have been underway for around 18 months, costing approximately two million euros to date. This figure includes invoices from suppliers and half of the costs associated with the necessary work within the welfare region. Paananen emphasized that the client bears the financial responsibility in such projects, but he also noted that the efforts invested were not in vain. During the preparation for the new system, various operational models and records in social services have been standardized.

The tendering process for the customer information system concluded in the summer of 2023, with domestic company Mediconsult Oy winning the bid. The timing of the project’s cancellation is particularly challenging for the Central Finland welfare region, which is currently facing significant economic difficulties. There are ongoing negotiations concerning potential job cuts affecting 250 employees, with the region needing to adjust its budget by 50 million euros.

Other welfare regions were also planning to implement the same now-abandoned system. Central Finland conducted the procurement in collaboration with North Savo and Pirkanmaa, but these two regions will continue with the rollout while Central Finland begins searching for an alternative system. Paananen indicated that transitioning to a new procurement process will not significantly alter the overall timeline, with related legislative changes postponed by two years. In the interim, the region will continue using the previous system.