The healthcare system in Finland is based on public healthcare services to which every resident is entitled to. In addition, several private service providers operate in the country. To read more about the Finnish healthcare system and instructions on how to use the services, please visit EU-healthcare.fi.
In Päijät-Häme, the public social and healthcare services are provided by Päijät-Sote, the Päijät-Häme Joint Authority for Health and Wellbeing. For general information about social and health services in each of the Päijät-Häme municipalities, please visit the websites listed below:
- Social and health services in Lahti
- Social and health services in Asikkala (in Finnish)
- Social and health services in Hartola (in Finnish)
- Social and health services in Heinola (in Finnish)
- Social and health services in Hollola (in Finnish)
- Social and health services in Iitti (in Finnish)
- Social and health services in Kärkölä (in Finnish)
- Social and health services in Orimattila (in Finnish)
- Social and health services in Sysmä (in Finnish)
- Social and health services in Padasjoki (in Finnish)
Emergency, urgent matters and crisis
The emergency number in Finland is 112.
Please call the emergency number if there is a genuine emergency, where someone’s life, health, property or the environment are in danger. You can call the emergency number even if you do not speak Finnish, as the emergency centre can arrange for telephone interpretation if necessary. Please do not call the emergency number for non-urgent matters.
Akuutti24 is the 24/7 emergency centre of Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, located at Keskussairaalankatu 7, 15850, Lahti. You can visit Akuutti24 in urgent matters where examinations or treatment cannot wait until the next working day. Akuutti24 also has a dental emergency service every day between 8:00-21:00. You can go to the dental emergency service if your teeth are causing severe pain and you cannot get treatment elsewhere. Always call 116117 before going to Akuutti24. For more information, please visit Akuutti24.fi (in Finnish).
The Poison Information Centre is a national telephone helpline which is open 24/7. You can contact the helpline free of charge on 0800 147 111 if you suspect that someone has ingested poisonous substances. The Poison Information Centre answers questions concerning the prevention and treatment of acute poisonings. For more information, please visit the Poison Information Centre website.
The Crisis Helpline of MIELI Mental Health Finland association provides crisis assistance and support to prevent mental health problems and suicide:
- The 24/7 Crisis Helpline in Finnish: 09 2525 0111
- The Crisis Helpline in English: 09 2525 0113
- Mondays and Tuesdays between 11:00 and 15:00
- Wednesdays between 13:00 and 16:00 & 17:00 and 21:00
- Thursdays between 10:00 and 15:00
For more information, please visit mieli.fi.
The local MIELI association offers face-to-face assistance in a crisis in Lahti. To book an appointment, please call 03 877 660 from Monday to Friday between 9:00-10:30 or send an e-mail to toimisto@lahdenkriisikeskus.fi. For more information about the local association, please visit the website of The Crisis Centre of Lahti Region.
Crisis Centre Monika offers support and assistance for immigrant women who have experienced or are at risk of violence. The helpline 0800 05058 is free of charge and open on Monday between 9:00 and 19:00, and from Tuesday to Friday between 9:00 and 16:00. Crisis Centre Monika provides support in Arabic, Dari, English, Spanish, Farsi, French, Finnish, Persian, Belarussian, and Russian. For more information, please visit monikanaiset.fi.
Victim Support Finland (RIKU) assists victims of crime or attempted crime as well as witnesses of a crime. For more information, please visit the Victim Support Finland website.
Public health and social services
In Päijät-Häme, public social services and healthcare are produced by Päijät-Sote, the Päijät-Häme Joint Authority for Health and Wellbeing General. To read more about the public social and health services of Päijät-Häme municipalities, please refer to Alipi's material. (Alipi - Social and Health Services)
Private health services
If you wish to use private health services, you can book your appointment directly on the service providers’ website. Examples of private health service providers in Lahti are Mehiläinen, Terveystalo and Arte-lääkärit (in Finnish). Please note that without insurance, private health services are considerably more expensive for the client than public services. However, it is usually faster to get an appointment with a private clinic compared to at a public clinic.
If you are covered by Finnish national health insurance, Kela reimburses a small portion of the expenses of the private health care service. For more information about reimbursement, please visit the Kela website.
School and student health care
Health care of pupils during pre-primary education, basic education and upper secondary education is organised by the municipality. Each unit has a designated nurse and a plan for organising the services. Please contact your educational unit directly for more information.
If you are a full-time degree student in a higher education institution and have registered for attendance for the term, your health services are provided by the Finnish Student Healthcare Service (FSHS). FSHS services are subject to a fee that is paid directly to Kela. Please contact your educational institution for information about the health care services and read more about FSHS fee payment on Kela's website.
Please visit eu-healthcare.fi for information about health care for international students in Finland.
Elderly health care
In Finland, municipalities are responsible for organising services for the elderly to ease everyday life and enable living at home for as long as possible. If you have permanent residency, you are entitled to receive the services that your municipality offers. Information about services for the elderly in Päijät-Häme can be found on ikääntyneidenpalveluneuvonta.fi (in Finnish).
In Päijät-Häme, services for elderly residents of Lahti, Asikkala, Hartola, Hollola, Iitti, Kärkölä, Orimattila and Padasjoki are coordinated by Päijät-Sote. For more information, please visit the Päijät-Sote website (in Finnish).
Elderly people living in Lahti, Asikkala, Hartola, Hollola, Iitti, Kärkölä, Orimattila and Padasjoki can receive free counselling from the Siiri service point at Palvelutori (Trio Shopping Centre, 2nd floor) about services offered to the elderly by private operators, the third sector and the municipality, as well as social benefits and well-being in everyday life. The Siiri service point’s opening times are:
- Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:00-15:00
- Wednesdays, 9:00-16:00
- Thursdays and Fridays, 9:00-15:00
Please check the Siiri service point (in Finnish) website for more information. It is also possible to contact SIIRI by calling 044 482 5050.
In Heinola, the service point Terveystupa is located at Torikatu 13, 18100 Heinola. The opening hours are as follows:
- Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:00-13:00
- Wednesdays, 9:00-14:00
- Thursdays and Fridays, 9:00-13:00
You can also contact Terveystupa by calling 044 769 4242. For more information, please visit the Terveystupa website (in Finnish).
Services for disabled people
According to Finnish law, disabled people must not be discriminated against because of their disability. Municipalities are required to offer support services to disabled people, such as assistive devices, as well as transport and assistant services. Foreigners with permanent residency are also entitled to these services. Please read more about rights and services on the following websites:
- The Support Centre Hilma - Guide for immigrants with disabilities and long-term illnesses
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare - Handbook on disability services
- Ministry of Social Affairs and Health - Disability services
In Päijät-Häme, the municipal disability services for residents of Lahti, Asikkala, Hartola, Hollola, Iitti, Kärkölä, Orimattila and Padasjoki are coordinated by Päijät-Sote. Please read more on the Päijät-Sote website (in Finnish).
Mental health
In Finland, municipal authorities are also responsible for organising mental health services in addition to other service providers. It is possible to seek support for mental health problems from, for example, health care centres, occupational health care, specialised psychiatric care, private clinics, private psychotherapists, the church and various organisations which provide and maintain different kinds of mental health services.
If you want to use municipal mental health care services in Päijät-Häme, please contact your local clinic. For more information, please visit the the Päijät-Sote website (in Finnish).
Medication
In Finland, medication can be bought in pharmacies. Self-care medication, such as mild painkillers, can be bought without a doctor’s prescription. For more information about medication and prescriptions, please visit the InfoFinland website.
Kela card
All permanent residents of Finland are issued with a personal health insurance card, a Kela card. The card is sent automatically and is free for everyone covered under the Finnish social security system. By presenting the Kela card at a pharmacy or at a private medical clinic, you can get a direct reimbursement for costs. Please read more about the Kela card on the Kela website.