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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
www.europa.eu .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.
In emergency cases, such as sudden illness,
unconciousness or life-threatening, always call
112.
Åbo
There are six municipal health care centres in Åbo.
The health care centres are open from Monday
to Friday 8.00-16.00, closed on weekends and on
national holidays. The city of Turku’sWelfare Divison
provides medical advice over the phone, call 02-
10023. You can call there on weekdays from 8.00-
15.00. Your call will be answered by a trained nurse.
If there is no immediate life threating situation,
patients requruing urgent treatment should first
attend their local health centre between 8.00-15.30.
Your postcode determines your local health centre.
For an appointment to see a doctor, call +358 (0)2
2314543.
The hearing-impaired have their own service for
the evaluation of medical care, counselling and
making an appointment at a health centre. This
can be contacted during office hours by texting
+358 (0)44 907 3824.
For more information see
www.turku.fi> Health.
Vasa
There are six municipal health care centres in
Vasa. The health care centres are open from
Monday to Thursday 8.00-16.00 and Friday 8.00-
14.00. If you need urgent medical care outside
the before mentioned times:
Mon-Sun 16:00 (14:00)-8:00, visit the Accident
& Emergency Clinic (Vaasa Central Hospital),
Y-building, Hietalahdenkatu 2-4, Vasa.
Appointments are not made, patients are
examined in order of arrival and type of illness.
For medical advice, call +358 (0)6 213 1001.
If you are not sure whether your symptoms
require emergency care, please call your Health
Centre during office hours and outside these
hours call the emeregency care helpline at +358
(0)6 213 1001.
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
(see chapter 5.5).