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.
Health centres
Public health services are provided by health stations (terveysasema). Health stations are open on weekdays from 8.00 to 16.00.
You can assess your need for treatment and get treatment instructions in the Omaolo service. You can also ask for advice in the health stations’ chat service or by calling the telephone health service at 09 310 10023. You can make the call in Finnish, Swedish or English.
You can make an appointment through the Omaolo service or by calling your own health centre. If you require treatment the same day please contact the health station as soon as it opens in the morning.
When you contact a health station, 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.
The contact information for health stations is available on the website of the City of Helsinki.
Private health services
There are several private clinics in Helsinki. You can go to a private clinic even if you do not have the right to use public health services in Finland.
However, at private clinics you have to pay the costs yourself. In some cases, Kela may compensate a small part of private medical costs.
Read more: Health services in Finland.
Medication
Information on buying medication is available on InfoFinland page Medication..
Health care for undocumented migrants
If you do not have a residence permit in Finland or have received a negative decision on an asylum application, you have the right to receive urgent and necessary treatment in public healthcare. 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
Helpline for undocumented persons: 09 310 53914, Mon–Fri at 12.30–13.30
Helsinki’s Global Clinic provides health-related advice for undocumented persons:
Tel. 044 977 4547
Email: globalclinic.finland@gmail.com (Link opens default mail program)
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 the maternity and child health clinic (neuvola). You can also ask them for advice and support with parenting.
In Helsinki, there are numerous maternity and child health clinics throughout the city. You can make an appointment for them online or by calling the appointment service.
Maternity and child health clinic appointment service
Tel. 09 3105 5530
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 the health centre is closed, please call the Medical Helpline. There is an emergency clinic for children under 16 years of age at the New Children’s Hospital. The emergency clinic only treats children who are in need of urgent medical assistance.
Medical Helpline
Tel. 116 117
New Children’s Hospital (Uusi lastensairaala)
Stenbäckinkatu 9
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.
City of Helsinki
Maternity and child health clinic appointments and information serviceLink redirects to another websiteHUS Helsinki University Hospital
Pediatric Emergency Department in HelsinkiLink redirects to another websiteDental care
Public dental care
In Helsinki, there are numerous dental clinics throughout the city. You can book, cancel and reschedule appointments by calling the dental care customer service.
Dental care customer service
Tel. 09 310 51400
If you need urgent treatment, evaluate your symptoms in the Omaolo service. You will receive instructions for what to do straight away. If you cannot use the Omaolo service, call the dental care customer service.
In evenings, at weekends and on public holidays, call emergency dental care.
Emergency dental care
Tel. 09 471 71110
If you need urgent treatment at night, call the Medical Helpline.
Medical Helpline
Tel. 116 117
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 need a prescription for contraception, contact your local health centre.
If you are under the age of 17 and need a prescription for contraception, please contact the public health nurse at your school or the centralised contraceptive counselling (keskitetty ehkäisyneuvonta) on 09 310 45566.
If you are contemplating abortion, please contact the Gynaecological Outpatient Clinic (naistentautien poliklinikka) on 09 471 65300.
If you suspect that you have a sexually transmitted disease, evaluate your symptoms in Omaolo or contact your local health centre. If you have symptoms, you can book an appointment with the Venereal Diseases Outpatient Clinic (sukupuolitautien poliklinikka) in Helsinki. The appointment number is 09 471 86220 (Mon–Fri 8.00–10.00).
Read more: Sexual health and contraception.
HUS Helsinki University Hospital
Sexually transmitted disease clinicLink redirects to another websitePregnancy and childbirth
The well-being of the mother, baby and the whole family is monitored at a maternity clinic (äitiysneuvola) during pregnancy. 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 the Women’s Hospital (Naistenklinikka) and the Espoo Hospital (Espoon sairaala). If you wish, you can also deliver your baby in another hospital within the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS). More information is available on HUS’s website.
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.
You can find out more about services for disabled persons on the City of Helsinki website and Helsinki’s counselling for people with disabilities (vammaisneuvonta).
Read more: Disabled people.
Intoxicant abuse
If you have problems with alcohol or drugs, contact your health centre or the substance abuse services (päihdepalvelut) helpline on 09 310 42 900.
You can also contact the A-Clinic (A-klinikka).
Young people aged 13 to 23 years with substance abuse problems can get help from the Youth Substance Abuse Service Pysäkki (Nuorten päihdepalvelu Pysäkki).
Youth Substance Abuse Service Pysäkki
Laivalahdenkatu 2b C
Open without appointment Mon–Fri 9.00–15.00
Tel. 09 310 24659
Schoolchildren and students can contact the health services of their educational institute.
Read more on the City of Helsinki’s website and on the InfoFinland page Substance dependence.