FINLAND | Emergency | General information
The Emergency Response Centres (ERC) recommend that you make an emergency call to 112 in urgent, genuine cases of emergency when someone’s health, property or the environment is in danger. Skilled emergency dispatchers will ask the necessary questions and provide advice and guidance to the caller. You should not dial 112 in non-urgent matters or just to make enquiries. These unnecessary calls may block the line for genuine emergency calls and lead to fatal consequences. Making misguided or hoax calls to the emergency number is a punishable offence.
Emergency call number is 112
Dialling this number will connect you with the dispatcher, who refers your information and need of assistance to the ambulance service, fire and rescue unit, police and/or social services.
If possible, make the call yourself.
Give a statement on what has happened.
State precisely the address and municipality.
Answer any questions asked and follow the instructions given.
Do not hang up until told to do so.
Calls to the emergency service are free of charge and no area code is needed.
Emergency calls are recorded.
For more information on these services see the English versions of:
- www.112.fi
- www.pelastustoimi.fi (Rescue services)
- www.poliisi.fi (Police)
Medical emergencies
In Finland public health care is mainly provided on the basis of residence and is primarily financed with general tax revenues. Primary health care services are the responsibility of municipalities and are provided through local health centres. They provide residents with physician, dental, laboratory and radiographic services. The municipalities also provide hospital care. There are also private medical service providers.
How can EU visitors receive medical services and benefits during a temporary stay in Finland?
You can contact your local municipal health centre and prove your right to benefits by presenting a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You may be asked to prove your identity with a passport or other travel document. You need to make an appointment in advance. The preventive health education services are free of charge but there are charges for certain services. This varies from one municipality to another. A visit to the doctor (including laboratory and X-ray services) is between 11-22 Euro. You can also contact a private physician, but here you have to pay the full fee (40-130 Euro depending on the specialist, but you can get a reimbursement, see www.kela.fi ).
If you have had an accident or are suddenly taken ill you can go to the health centre’s first aid or emergency services (during daytime with a same-day-appointment or during evenings and night on a queuing basis). Outside regular hours patients may be charged an extra 15 Euro.
Hospitals require a referral from a doctor in order to admit a patient, but in emergencies you can contact the hospital directly. A valid EHI-card must be presented to get these medical benefits. Waiting times at hospitals’ emergency services are usually long, even several hours. An outpatient visit to the hospital is 22 Euro and in a private sector that may be 72 Euro. These fees are not reimbursed. In a private hospital you pay the full fee, but may be reimbursed (see www.kela.fi ).
If you need urgent dental care you can contact the dentist on call at the local health centre or a private practitioner. Health centres will charge a fee according to a fixed scale of charges (usually less than 80 Euro). Private dentists’ fees are larger (you can get a reimbursement, see www.kela.fi).
For more information see the English versions of:
www.kela.fi
www.stm.fi