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Hea l t h Ca r e
5. Health Care
5.1 The European Health Insurance
Card
The idea of the European Health Insurance Card is
to simplify the transfer of the health insurance of
a European citizen to another European country
where he/she is residing. Citizens of the EU/EEA-
countries are thus entitled to emergency medical
care or to medical care required by a pre-existing
health condition at the same costs as permanent
residents of Finland. The requirement is that the
person is covered by health insurance in his/
her home country. You need to look into these
matters in your home country. More information
about the European Health Insurance card can be
found at
5.2 Municipal Health Care Centres
Everyone who lives in Finland is entitled to
health care and medical treatment. In emergency
situations, treatment is provided immediately. In
non-urgent cases the need for care is assessed
and treatment is provided within a specified time.
Health care centre treatment is arranged within
three months and specialised medical care within
six months.
There are six municipal health care centres in
Turku/Åbo. The health care centres are open from
Monday to Friday 8 - 16, closed on weekends and
on national holidays. At all other times, a patient
in need of urgent care should contact the On-
Call Service, phone +358 (0)2 10023. The health
care centre is determined by one's home address
and the postal number. The primary point of care
is always the person's own health care centre. To
make an appointment, call +358 (0)2 231 4543
(Åbo).
There are six municipal health care centres in
Vaasa/Vasa as well. The health care centres
are open from Monday to Thursday 8 - 16 and
Friday 8-14. If you need urgent medical care
outside the before mentioned times: Mon-Sun:
8.00-22.00, visit the Main Health Care Centre
(Pääterveyskeskus), Smedsbyvägen 14-16. You
don't have to make an appointment. For medical
advice, call: +358 (0)6 325 1700.
In addition to health centre services, primary
health care includes maternity and child welfare
clinics, school health care, medical rehabilitation
and dental care. Local authorities also provide
specialised medical care through the municipal
hospital districts. Primary health care is provided
by municipal health care centres. Children
under school age are attended to by child
welfare clinics, and school children by school
health care. Local authorities can, if necessary,
acquire health services from the private sector.
Employers organise occupational health care and
occupational rehabilitation for employees.
If you are not sure what to do, please contact the
medical advice helpline: phone: +358 (0)2 10023
(Monday to Friday 8 - 15), or your health care
centre.
5.3 The Finnish Student Health Ser-
vice (FSHS)
The Finnish Student Health Service, FSHS,
(
Studenternas häl sovårdss t i f te l se
SHVS /
Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö
YTHS) offers
basic health care services, i.e. general, mental,
and oral health services, for students who are
members of a Finnish Student Union (i.e. Kåren
at Åbo Akademi University (see chapter 2.3)). All
services at FSHS, except for dental care, are free of
charge.
Appointments are offered with public health
nurses, physiotherapists, general practitioners
and specialists (for example gynaecologists and
dermatologists).The range of services does not
include inpatient care, mother and child clinics
or out-of-hours/weekend emergency services.
Students are entitled to use the services of all
15 FSHS health care centres in Finland. Note,
however, that FSHS services are not available to
doctoral students. For further information on how
to book an appointment, please see
