The Association of Health Promoting Hospitals in Finland is a member of the worldwide, WHO-led network of Health Promoting Hospitals. The Finnish Association aims to introduce health-promoting models of action into Finnish hospitals. Together with the primary health care organisation, hospitals have the possibility of taking more responsibility for the development of health in the population of their district than what they are currently doing and thus create an effective and economical health care system.

Smoking and nicotine dependence are significant factors in the birth or aggravation of many national diseases. Smoking cessation is a central aim in health promotion. The Smoke-free Hospital strategy requires a joint decision by the management and personnel to promote non-smoking both among the personnel and patients.