Insurance
All students are recommended to have a valid health insurance during their studies in Turku. Only with proper health insurance can all the costs be covered if you become ill during you stay in Finland.
- Getting a residence permit requires a valid health insurance. Please check the requirements at Finnish Immigration Service's website.
- European health insurance card entitles EU/EEA citizens to the same municipal health care at the same prices as Finnish citizens. EHIC won't cover your medical invoices.
- Please notice:
EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property, - does not cover your costs if you are travelling for the express purpose of obtaining medical treatment,
- does not guarantee free services. Each healthcare system is different, services that do not cost in your home country might cost in another country. Health care in Finland costs a small amount, so please be aware of this and be prepared to pay the fee when visiting the healthcare centre.
- Please notice:
UTU International Office highly recommends that exchange students get a health insurance that covers their stay in Finland.
In case of accident at UTU you are not insured by UTU. Please check beforehand from your home university if its insurance will cover you also during your exchange. If not you should have some kind of insurance by yourself. In most cases the health insurance is ok.
Especially the students of Medicine, Dentistry, those doing the lab work at Faculties of Science/ Technology/ Medicine or participating the practicals at Faculty of Education please notice this when preparing your exchange.
Health care for the exchange students
Please notice: Finnish Student Health services is not available for exchange students.
If an exchange student needs medical care during the exchange the student can use the health care centres in Turku and in Pori. Please notice: Your postal code will tell it to you, which is your health centre. Please check too EU-HealthCare.
When vising a doctor you should have your Finnish ID Code. Please check the instruction, how to register to Finland as a foreigner.
EU citizen:
- With the European Health Insurance Card you'll get the same health care as you would get in a health care centre at your home country. Please notice - the card won't cover the medical expencies. Please check the information above. A separate insurance is highly recommended.
- Please check the Varha's client fees
Non-EU citizen:
- An insurance is obligatory for the non-EU citizen (required by the residence permit).
- Please check the Varha's client fees
Booking the time to a Health Station:
In Turku:
Your health station is according to your postal code of your Turku address. There is a common phone number where to call the appointment. The health stations will use the call-back-services and it will only work with a Finnish sim card. Please check the presentation of ESN during the Orientation, how toget a free sim card.
Where to call: +358 2 266 1130 Monday–Friday 8.00–16.00 or visit the health station.
In Pori:
Your health station is according to your postal code of your Pori address. There is a common phone number where to call the appointment. The health stations will use the call-back-services and it will only work with a Finnish sim card.
Where to call: +358 2 621 5000 Monday–Friday 8.00–16.00 or visit the health station.
Private clinics:
Getting the appointment from health stations is difficult even for Finns. The easiest way to get help is to visit the private clinics. They will cost more than health stations, but you'll get help faster there. Your insurance will help you with the cost.
In Turku:
In Pori:
During weekends:
If you feel sick during the weekend and cannot wait for Monday you could visit the private clinics (listed above).
If you are feeling really sick and cannot wait please check
- in Turku TYKS Emergency Services
- TYKS, T-hospital Savitehtaankatu 1
Before leaving for the hospital
Please, always call the help desk, telephone +358 116 117. More information
https://www.tyks.fi/en/patients-and-visitors/hospitals-and-units/tyks-t-hospital/emergency-services-turku-tyks-t-hospitalAssess your need for emergency care and how urgent it is.
Take a list with you on what medication you are currently using.
Note! Please call the help desk first, especially if you have sudden symptoms of a respiratory infection. You will get the appropriate advice on how to treat the condition.
Car parking in the hospital area is subject to a charge.
- in Pori Satasairaala
Evenings, nights and weekends emergency care is provided by Satasairaala 16.00-8.00, tel. +358 2 281 2485. It is advisable to phone before attending, a nurse will assess the need for emergency care and give further instructions.
Satasairaala is situated at Sairaalantie 3, 28500 Pori.
Bringing medicines to Finland
You can only bring medicinal products to Finland from abroad for personal use.
Maximum import amount from EEA countries.
If you carry the medicine, you can bring a quantity equivalent to a year’s supply.
Maximum import amount from outside the EEA
If you carry the medicine, you can bring a quantity equivalent to three month’s supply.
Receiving medicines by post is prohibited.
Bringing narcotic medicine to Finland like ADHD medicine
From a Schengen country:
- If you carry a medicinal product classified as a narcotic, you can bring a quantity equivalent to 30 days’ supply.
- For carrying products, you also need a Schengen certificate
- If you travel in the Schengen area, you can get the certificate from a pharmacy.
From outside Europe including Grear Britain
- If you carry a medicinal product classified as a narcotic, you can bring a quantity equivalent to 14 days’s supply.
In Finland you need to visit either neurologist or psychiatrist to get a new prescription to your medicine to ADHD etc in Finland. You'll find one from a private clinic.
Please take with you all the information concerning your medication, diagnose with you for a specialist in Finland.
If you'll Need Mental Help
You could visit your local health station to get help.
On My Mind
On My Mind -activities of the University of Turku aims to promote student wellbeing through community and peer support activities. Our main objective is to make sure that no one is left alone with their worries.