Health in Helsinki
Local information
Select your municipality in order to see information about local services when browsing the site.
Health Services in Helsinki
In urgent matters, call the emergency number 112. Call the emergency number in the event of serious accident or if someone is having a seizure, for example. Do not call the emergency number for non-urgent matters.
If your municipality of residence is Helsinki, you are entitled to use public health services. Public health services are provided by health stations, dental clinics, maternity and child health clinics and hospitals.
If you are not entitled to use public health care services, you can seek help at a private medical clinic. At private clinics, you will have to pay all the expenses yourself.
If you require information on health services, you can call the telephone health service: (09) 310 100 23.
You can also contact the service to request advice on how to treat illnesses. You can make the call in Finnish, Swedish or English.
Read more: Health services in Finland.
When you contact a health station (terveysasema), a nurse will first assess your situation. On the basis of the assessment you will be referred to a doctor, a public health nurse or a nurse.
Health stations are open on weekdays from 8.00 to 16.00. If you require treatment the same day please contact the health station as soon as it opens in the morning.
The contact information for health stations is available on the website of the City of Helsinki.
Health Counselling
Information about health counsellingLink redirects to another websitePrivate health services
You can visit a private clinic even if you are not entitled to public health care services in Finland. At private clinics you will have to cover all the expenses yourself.
Medication
Information on buying medication is available on InfoFinland page Medication..
Health care for undocumented migrants
An undocumented migrant refers to an immigrant who does not have a residence permit or an immigrant who does not have health insurance.
In Helsinki, undocumented migrants are entitled to receive urgent and necessary treatment from public health services. Anyone under the age of 18 and pregnant women are entitled to receive the same health services as other residents in Helsinki.
If you need health care services or social services, please contact the Kalasatama Health and Well-being Centre.
Kalasatama Health and Well-being Centre
Työpajankatu 14 A
tel. +358 9310 50333
Helsinki’s Global Clinic provides undocumented people with health-related advice on tel. 044 977 45 47.
Emergency services
If you need urgent treatment, evaluate your symptoms at Omaolo.fi. You will receive instructions on how to proceed. You can also call your health centre Mon–Thu 8–16, Fri and on the eve of holidays 8–15. In the evening, at the weekend or on holidays, call the Medical Helpline at 116117 (free of charge).
In urgent situations, adults and young people (aged 16 and older) can go to the Malmi and Meilahti Emergency Departments.
Urgent treatment for children (15 and younger) is provided at the Paediatric Emergency Department in New Children’s Hospital.
If you need urgent specialised medical treatment, first seek a referral from a doctor or call the Medical Helpline at 116117 (free of charge). You can then go to Malmi and Meilahti hospitals around the clock or take your child (under 16 years of age) to New Children’s Hospital.
Medical Helpline
Tel. 116 117
Malmi Emergency Department
Street address: Talvelantie 6, Helsinki
Tel. 09 471 71130
Meilahti Emergency Department
Street address: Bridge Hospital’s entrance on Paciuksenkatu Street, Paciuksenkatu 3, Helsinki
Tel. 09 471 71120
New Children’s Hospital
Street address: Stenbäckinkatu 9, Helsinki
Switchboard, tel. 09 4711
Information desk, tel. 09 471 72783
At the emergency departments of Malmi, Meilahti and New Children’s Hospital, the staff always first assess the need for treatment and its urgency. Based on this assessment, a nurse or a doctor will see you. At the emergency departments, patients in need of urgent care are given priority. The order of arrival does not affect access to treatment, and a patient who comes after you may get treatment before you.
Children’s health
The health and development of children under school age is monitored at a maternity and child health clinic (neuvola). In Helsinki, you are entitled to the services of the clinics if you have a Kela card. You can make an appointment for a maternity and child health clinic at your own health station.
School nurses take care of the health of children who attend school. More information can be obtained from the respective schools.
When a child suddenly falls ill please contact your local health station. Call the health station first thing in the morning as soon as it opens. Health stations are open on weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm.
When health stations are closed please contact the emergency clinic at the Children’s Hospital. The emergency clinic only treats children who are in need of urgent medical assistance.
New Children’s Hospital (Uusi lastensairaala)
Stenbäckinkatu 9
Tel. (09) 87 100 23
You can also take your child to a private clinic. There are numerous private clinics that treat children in Helsinki.
Read more: Children’s health.
HUS Helsinki University Hospital
Pediatric Emergency Department in HelsinkiLink redirects to another websiteDental care
Public dental care
The Helsinki dental care appointments telephone number is (09) 310 51400. You can call the number Mon–Fri 7.00–15.00. If you need emergency care call the number early in the morning.
If you urgently need a dentist in the evening or at the weekend, call the emergency clinic on tel. 09 471 71110.
Private dental care
There are also 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 public.
Read more: Dental care.
Mental health
If you have concerns about your mental health, you can seek help from the low-threshold Mental Health Service Unit Mieppi (Mieppi). You can get help for mental health concerns and sudden issues at your own health station Mon–Fri 8–16. At other times, call the Medical Helpline at 116 117.
In case of serious mental disorders, urgent psychiatric first aid for young people aged 16 and older and adults is provided at Meilahti Emergency Department around the clock. Children under 16 years of age can be treated at the Paediatric Emergency Department in New Children’s Hospital around the clock.
Meilahti Emergency Department
Street address: Bridge Hospital’s entrance on Paciuksenkatu Street, Paciuksenkatu 3, Helsinki
Tel. 09 471 71120
New Children’s Hospital (Uusi Lastensairaala, ULS)
Street address: Stenbäckinkatu 9, Helsinki
Switchboard tel. 09 4711
Information desk 09 471 72783
MIELI Mental Health Finland
National Crisis HelplineLink redirects to another websiteThe Finnish Association for Mental Health (Suomen Mielenterveysseura) has a crisis reception service for immigrants living in the Helsinki region. The crisis reception offers support and help in difficult situations. You can call and make an appointment for MIELI Crisis Centre Helsinki, tel. 09 413 50 510. The crisis reception provides services in Finnish, Swedish and English, and other languages with the help of an interpreter.
Read more: Mental health.
Sexual health and contraception
If you require a prescription for contraception or you are contemplating abortion please contact your local health station (terveysasema).
If you are under the age of 16 and require a prescription for contraception please contact the public health nurse at your school.
If you suspect that you have a sexually transmitted disease but are exhibiting no symptoms please contact your own health station. If you have symptoms, you can visit the sexually transmitted disease clinic of Helsinki on Mon–Fri 8.00–11.00. The address is Meilahdentie 2.
Read more: Sexual health and contraception.
Pregnancy and childbirth
The well-being of the mother, baby and the whole family is monitored at a maternity clinic (äitiysneuvola) during pregnancy. You are entitled to the services of the clinics if you have a Kela card. Please contact the maternity and child health clinic in your area as soon as you find out about your pregnancy.
The maternity hospitals in the Helsinki region are Naistenklinikka (Helsinki) and Jorvin sairaala (Espoo). Contact information can be found on the website of the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa.
Read more: Pregnancy and childbirth and When a child is born in Finland.
HUS Helsinki University Hospital
On-call services at maternity hospitalsLink redirects to another websitePatient’s rights
If you feel that you have been treated unfairly within the health services, first try to solve the matter at the place of treatment. If the matter is not resolved, contact the chief physician or head nurse at your place of treatment. After this, you can contact the Patient Ombudsman (potilasasiamies) if necessary.
Disabled people
The City of Helsinki organises various services for disabled people, such as aid equipment, transport services and daytime activities. Services are also organised for disabled children.
If you have a disability please first contact your local health station (terveysasema). Your situation will be assessed at the health station.
More information about services for disabled people can be obtained from the social workers of local disability services.
Read more: Disabled people.
Intoxicant abuse
If you need help with a substance abuse problem (such as alcohol or drug abuse), contact your health centre. You can also contact the A-Clinic.
Young people aged 13–23 years with substance abuse problems can get help at the youth station.
To read more, go to: Intoxicant abuse