World Country Guide

Other risks
Hepatitis A occurs. Cases of diphtheria have been reported. Campers and trekkers should take precautions against tick bites and consider immunisation against tick-borne encephalitis.

Health care

European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland:
If you or any of your dependants are suddenly taken ill or have an accident during a visit to an EEA country or Switzerland, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available – in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Each country has different rules about state medical provision. In some, treatment is free. In many countries you will have to pay part or all of the cost, and then claim a full or partial refund. The EHIC gives access to state-provided medical treatment only and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised. Note that the EHIC replaces the Form E111, which will no longer be valid after 31 December 2005.
There are charges for visits to the doctor, hospital and dental treatment, and prescribed medicines. Some of these charges may, however, be partially refunded by the Finnish Sickness Insurance Department (Kansaneläkelaitoksen Paikallistoimisto – KELA; tel: (20) 434 5058; website: www.kela.fi). On production of the required documents, visitors seeking treatment will generally be charged approximately ¬11-22 for a visit to a doctor at a municipal health centre (outside regular hours, patients may be liable to an additional ¬15 charge), ¬22 for a visit to a hospital outpatient clinic and ¬26 per day for hospitalisation (charges may vary depending on the municipality). Those receiving private treatment should keep the receipt and submit it to the local KELA office as they may be entitled to a partial refund. For emergency dental treatment, visitors should contact the dentist on duty at the municipal health centre. A standard fee will be charged. Prescribed drugs may be obtained from any pharmacy and are charged at the full amount, though costs may be partially claimed back from the local KELA. For most prescribed medicines, a 50 per cent refund is available on amounts exceeding around ¬8. For emergencies, dial 112. For general information about health care and doctors who make house calls, dial 10023 (24-hour helpline; obtainable in Finland only). The pharmacy at Mannerheimintie 96, Helsinki (tel: 0203 20200 or 4178 0317) is open 24 hours.