The Ministry of Health and Welfare plays a central role in health planning,
policy formulation and policy implementation at the national level. In
collaboration with the Ministry, regional governments are in charge of
managing regional medical centres while each municipality is in charge
of managing health centres, health subcentres and primary health-care
posts. The Ministry’s approach to health planning is generally based on
the health needs of the population, but sometimes influenced by political
changes. Taking account of the social determinants of health, health in all
policies has been emphasized.