In Finland the municipalities take care of health care services. When you fall ill, the first place to seek medical attention is the local health care centre. You can either reserve an appointment there or directly go to the emergency reception. If the person who has fallen ill is part of the occupational health care system via his/her work, the company doctor can first be visited instead of the health care centre.
If treatment of the illness or continued examinations requires it, the doctor at the health care centre, the company doctor or the private doctor can draft a referral for hospital care or hospital examinations. Thus patients generally come to the Hospital District’s hospitals with a referral from a doctor. In case of acute, severe cases one can come to the on-duty emergency wards and the hospitals’ wards for first aid even without a referral.
The hospitals in the Hospital District of Southwest Finland primarily offer specialised medical care services to the inhabitants in the municipalities owning them. These municipalities are the municipalities in Varsinais-Suomi, as well as Punkalaidun and Vampula. In addition, the Hospital District supplies certain health care services on highly specialised level also to the Satakunta Hospital District and the Åland Hospital District. As to hyperbaric oxygen treatment and PET imaging, the Turku University Hospital supplies these services to the whole country.
Patient fees
Patient fees for inhabitants of the member municipalities
In Finland the home municipality of the patient covers the main part of the health care costs. The fees collected from the patients are defined according to laws and statutes on patient fees.
In 2010 the fees are:
- fee for treatment day € 32.50
- outpatient ward fee € 27.40
- day surgical fee € 89.90
A payment ceiling of € 633 has been set for client fee costs for the calendar year.
Fees collected from other than Finnish residents
A payment corresponding with the cost of producing the service is collected from other than Finnish permanent residents (regardless if the party concerned is a Finnish citizen), including persons younger than 18 years of age, unless an international contract to which Finland is bound states otherwise.
Residents of EU/EEA countries have to attest to their right for immediate health care by means of a European health care card or a corresponding form. It is sufficient for residents of the Nordic countries to present a passport or identification card. A person seeking non-immediate care have to present an E112 form or a payment corresponding with the cost of producing the service will be collected.
Persons from other countries than those of the EU or which are parties in aforementioned contracts pay fees corresponding with the real costs both for immediate and non-immediate care.
The same fees are collected from foreigners with a Finnish domicile, who are covered by Finnish health insurance, or who have valid certification of health benefits in Finland, as from permanent residents of Finland. |
