Category Archives: Health & Wellbeing

Including emergencies, dental, child and family health.

Going to the Doctor

Public health care
You are entitled to use public health services in Finland if you have a municipality of residence.
To find out if you have one, contact the Local Register Office (maistraatti).

If you do and need to see a doctor, contact your local health station (terveysasema).
Health Stations directory

Normal hours are 8 am – 4pm, Monday to Friday. You may have to wait for an appointment, unless it is urgent. The cost is generally very low or free. If you have a Kela card, take it with you.

Private Health Care

If you are not entitled to public health services, you can make an appointment at a private clinic. Private health services are more expensive than public ones.

Seeing a specialist

First book an appointment with a general practitioner. Your health centre doctor will then refer you to a specialist.

Subsidies

If you are unwell and unable to go to work, you may be eligible for assistance from Kela.

Kela pays a small part of the expenses of private health care if you are covered by Finnish national health insurance. Sometimes a person who is not covered by Finnish national health insurance may also be entitled to Kela reimbursements.

EU citizens

If you have a European Health Insurance Card, you are entitled to use public health care services. If you use private health care services, Kela may reimburse some of the expenses.

Maternity and pre-school care

Care for pregnant women and newborn babies is provided by Neuvola. There are various clinics around Helsinki. They provide regular child health checks and administer vaccinations in accordance with the Finnish child vaccination program. Visit the City of Helsinki website for a list of clinics.

Municipality of residence in Finland

Health Stations directory

Emergencies

The emergency number in Finland is 112.

This number is free to call from any phone and works across the EU.

Take note of important numbers you may need now and keep them somewhere you can easily find them, should an emergency arise.

24 hour healthline – Phone 09 871 0023

Poisons Information Centre – open 24/7, Phone 09 471 977

Children’s Hospital Emergency Department (Lastenklinnika) – Stenbäckinkatu 11, Helsinki

Emergency Dental Care – Phone (09) 310 51400 8am – 2pm. Outside these hours, on weekends and holidays phone: (09) 310 49999.

More information on Emergency services in Finland

Dental Care

Public dental care is provided by your municipality of residence.

The Helsinki dental care appointments telephone number is (09) 310 51400. You can call the number Mon–Fri 8am–3pm. If you need emergency care, phone early in the morning. If you want to make an appointment for non-emergency care, call the number after 10am.

For non-urgent dental care you may have to wait a few weeks for an appointment. The cost for services is very low however compared to the private sector.

Private dental care

There are plenty of private dental clinics in Helsinki. You can visit a private dentist even if you are not entitled to public health care services. Private dental care is more expensive than the public. Some people may be eligible for a partial refund from Kela for certain dental care services.

Children

Public dental care is free for children up to the age of 18. A letter will be sent to their home inviting them to attend regular check-ups.

Useful links

Emergency Dental Care – Phone (09) 310 51400 between 8am – 2pm.

Outside these hours, on weekends and holidays phone: (09) 310 49999.

Kela – info on reimbursements

More information on dental care in Finland

Good to know

The Finnish word for dentist is hammaslääkäri (hammas – tooth, lääkaäri – doctor).