A working group set up by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has drawn up national guidelines for the provision of pharmacotherapy in public and private social and health care units. The purpose of the Safe pharmacotherapy guidelines is to harmonise the principles for the provision of pharmacotherapy, to clarify the division of responsibilities related to its provision, and to define the minimum requirements that must be complied with in all units providing pharmacotherapy. The guidelines also give examples of good practices in pharmacotherapy. The development needs that necessitated the preparation of the guidelines are related, above all, to the definition of questions of responsibility in pharmacotherapy in different sectors, harmonisation of licence practices, induction of staff, and ensuring and maintaining the knowledge and skills in pharmacotherapy.