Insurance
All students are recommended to have a valid health insurance during their stay 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 does not 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 flights or lost/stolen property.
- It also:
- 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.
UTU International Office highly recommends that exchange students get health insurance that covers their stay in Finland!
In case of an 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 get some kind of insurance yourself to cover your stay.
Especially the students of Medicine and Dentistry, as well as those doing the lab work at Faculties of Science/Technology/Medicine, or participating the practicals at Faculty of Education, should make sure they are covered.
Health Care for Exchange Students
NB! 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 stations in Turku and in Pori. You can find your health station based on your postal code.
EU-HealthCare has a lot of information about your rights and health care in the EU.
When vising a doctor you should have your Finnish Personal Identity Code. Please check the instructions on 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 be informed that the card does not cover medical expencies. Please check the information above. A separate insurance is highly recommended.
- Varha's client fees can be found here.
Non-EU citizen:
- Insurance is obligatory for any non-EU citizen (required by the residence permit).
- Varha's client fees can be found here.
Booking an appointment at a Health Station:
Turku:
Your health station is based on your postal code. The phone number for reservations is shared among all health stations in Turku. The stations use call-back-services, which will only work with a Finnish sim card. ESN Turku will tell you during the orientation how to get a free sim card!
Reservations phone number: +358 2 266 1130
This number is in use Monday–Friday 8.00–16.00
Alternatively, visit the health station.
Pori:
Your health station is based on your postal code. The phone number for reservations is shared among all health stations in Turku. The stations use call-back-services, which will only work with a Finnish sim card.
Reservations phone number: +358 2 621 5000
This number is in use Monday–Friday 8.00–16.00
Alternatively, visit the health station.
Private clinics:
Getting an appointment from the public health stations can be difficult even for Finns. The easiest way to get help is to visit private clinics. They will cost more than health stations, but you will get help faster. Your insurance will help you cover the cost.
Turku:
Pori:
During weekends:
If you feel sick during the weekend and cannot wait until Monday, you could visit the private clinics (listed above).
If you are feeling really sick and cannot wait or you have had an accident, the following services could help:
- in Turku TYKS Emergency Services
- TYKS, T-hospital Savitehtaankatu 1
- Before leaving for the hospital:
- Please, always call the help desk, tel. +358 116 117.
- Assess your need for emergency care and how urgent it is.
- Take a list with you on what medication you are currently using.
- NB! Please call the help desk first. 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.
- Evenings, nights and weekends emergency care is provided by Satasairaala 16.00–8.00, tel. +358 2 281 2485.
Bringing Medications 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.
►More detailed instructions can be found on Fimea's website.
Bringing Narcotic Medicine to Finland, e.g. for ADHD
Maximum import amount from Schengen countries:
- If you carry a medicinal product classified as a narcotic, you can bring a quantity equivalent to a 30 days’ supply.
- For carrying these products, you also need a Schengen certificate
- A phramacy can issue you the certificate.
Maximum import amount from outside Europe including, Great Britain:
- If you carry a medicinal product classified as a narcotic, you can bring a quantity equivalent to a 14 days’ supply.
Once in Finland, you need to visit either a neurologist or a psychiatrist to get a new prescription for these kinds of medications. 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.
►For more information please see FIMEA's website.
Mental Help
Your local health station can offer mental help too. See above.
Other possible resources:
- 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.
- University Chaplaincy – Counseling is available for all members of the university communities when there is something on your mind that you would like to talk about with someone other than your closest circle of family and friends. There is no requirement for you to be a Christian nor to be religious at all.