FINLAND | Emergency | Healthcare system
Healthcare in Finland
The health care system in Finland is decentralised. It is organised at three levels:
- 400 local health care centers
- 21 hospital districts that provide specialised hospital care (a referral from a doctor is required, except in emergencies)
- 5 university hospital districts (these hospitals provide highly specialised care)
The public health care services are supplemented by private providers and non-governmental organisations (NGO). Municipalities are responsible for organising outpatient health care (both in physical and mental illness) and rehabilitation services through the primary health care system provided at local health centres. Health centres also have hospitals providing basic nursing services. Municipalities also provide dental care, ambulance services and occupational health care services for residents.
The state level authorities and related agencies dealing with health care are:
- Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
- National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health
- National Public Health Institute
- Finnish Institute for Occupational Health
- National Agency for Medicines
Costs
The services are primarily financed with general tax revenues, and the price patients have to pay is minimal. If you have a valid European Health Insurance Card, you are entitled to the same medically necessary care in Finland as the residents. The procedure for getting the treatment is the same as those that apply to the local residents. If you seek treatment from a doctor or hospital not covered by the local system, you will have to pay all necessary costs yourself, but you can get a reimbursement.
Prescriptions
Medicines are only sold in pharmacies. They are mostly privately owned. Pharmacies sell both prescription and over-the-counter medicines, first aid and skin care supplies. Antibiotics are always prescription medicines. The following are available without a doctor’s or dentist’s prescription:
- Basic painkillers, e.g. Aspirin, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen
- Antihistamines
- Several cough medicines
- Laxatives
- Skincare and desinfectants.