Health care and safety
This page brings together practical information about healthcare, health insurance, emergency help and safety in Estonia.
If you are new to Tartu, it may take time to understand where to turn with different health or safety concerns. Start with the most urgent question: in an immediate emergency, call 112. For non-emergency health questions, contact your family doctor, call the family doctor advice line or ask a pharmacist for guidance.
Emergency assistance
In an immediate emergency, call 112.
Call 112 if you need urgent help from an ambulance, the police or rescue services. In Estonian, ambulance is kiirabi.
The emergency number works across Estonia and is free to call.
When calling 112, try to explain clearly:
what happened;
where help is needed;
whether anyone is injured or in danger;
your name and phone number.
Stay on the line and follow the instructions given by the emergency operator.
Emergency medical care in Tartu
If you need urgent medical help, you can call 112 or go to the Emergency Department of Tartu University Hospital. In Estonian, the Emergency Department is usually called EMO – erakorralise meditsiini osakond.
The main Emergency Department is located at:
Tartu University Hospital
L. Puusepa 8, Wing M, 1st floor
Emergency medical help is available 24 hours a day. Depending on the health problem, emergency reception may take place in different clinics of Tartu University Hospital.
A visit fee may apply if you go to the Emergency Department yourself. For the latest information about emergency reception, locations and possible fees, visit the Tartu University Hospital emergency reception page.
Family Doctor’s Advice Line 1220
If you have a health concern but it is not an emergency, you can call the Family Doctor’s Advice Line.
Family doctors and nurses can give advice about minor health problems, home treatment and what to do next. They can also help you decide whether you should contact your family doctor, go to the Emergency Department or call 112.
You can call:
1220 – from Estonia
+372 634 6630 – from Estonia or abroad
The advice line is available in Estonian 24 hours a day, including weekends and public holidays. Advice in English is available every day from 9:00 to 17:00.
Please check the latest information and call fees on the 1220 website.
In an immediate emergency, always call 112.
Pharmacies
For minor health problems, pharmacists can give advice and help you choose suitable over-the-counter medicines. In Estonian, a pharmacy is called apteek.
Prescription medicines can only be bought with a valid prescription. In Estonia, prescriptions are usually digital and linked to your Estonian personal identification code.
Some pharmacies also offer additional health services, such as vaccination against flu, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases, as well as blood pressure or blood sugar measurement. These services are usually available only in selected pharmacies and may involve a fee. Please check the service availability, price and booking requirements in advance.
There are many pharmacies in Tartu, including in larger shopping centres. Opening hours may vary, and some pharmacies are open longer than others. You can use the pharmacy search on the State Agency of Medicines website to find the nearest pharmacy and check its details. It is also a good idea to check the pharmacy’s own website before visiting.
Tartu has a 24-hour pharmacy: Raekoja Apteek, located on the ground floor of the Town Hall building at Raekoja plats 1a.
If you are not sure whether you need a pharmacy, a family doctor, the Family Doctor’s Advice Line or emergency medical care, you can call the Family Doctor’s Advice Line 1220 for advice.
In an immediate emergency, always call 112.
Family doctor and primary healthcare
For most non-emergency health concerns, your first contact in Estonia is usually a family doctor. In Estonian, a family doctor is called perearst.
A family doctor can help with common health problems, regular health concerns, prescriptions, medical certificates and referrals to specialist care when needed. Read more about primary health care in Estonia here.
To register with a family doctor, you generally need an Estonian personal identification code. Family doctors have patient lists, and some lists may be full, so finding a family doctor may take time.
You can use the family doctor search to look for family doctors in Tartu. Please note that the search page is in Estonian.
Enter Tartu in the field Teeninduspiirkond, select vabade kohtade olemasolu and click Otsi to see family doctors whose patient lists may have available places.
Please note that an available place in the list does not automatically guarantee that you will be accepted. Contact the family doctor centre directly to ask whether they can add you to their list. Language availability may also vary between family doctor centres.
Before visiting a family doctor centre, always contact them first. Many family doctor centres use phone, email or digital platforms for appointment booking and initial contact.
If you cannot find a family doctor immediately, you may also consider paid private or online medical services for non-emergency health concerns. Examples include Confido Raatuse Clinic, Salu and Minudoc.
Please check the service conditions, prices, language availability and whether an online consultation is suitable for your health concern before booking. These services do not automatically replace being registered with a family doctor in the public healthcare system.
If you do not yet have a family doctor and your health concern is not an emergency, you can call the Family Doctor’s Advice Line 1220 for guidance.
In an immediate emergency, always call 112.
Specialised medical care
If your health concern needs to be checked by a specialist doctor, your family doctor will usually decide what kind of specialist care is needed.
For many specialist appointments, you need a digital referral from your family doctor. In some cases, your family doctor may first ask the specialist for advice through an e-consultation.
Some specialist doctors can be contacted without a referral, for example an ophthalmologist, dermatologist, gynaecologist or psychiatrist. However, rules may depend on the service, healthcare provider and your health insurance. Always check the requirements before booking an appointment.
Waiting times for specialist care may vary. When booking an appointment, check the location, language availability, possible fees and whether you need to bring an identity document, referral letter or previous medical information.
You can read more about specialist medical care on the Health Portal and the Estonian Health Insurance Fund website.
In an immediate emergency, always call 112.
See here for more information on specialised medical care.
Dental care
For dental care, you can usually contact a dental clinic directly. You do not normally need a referral from your family doctor.
For adults, dental care in Estonia is usually paid by the patient. If you are covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, you may be able to use an annual dental care benefit at dental clinics that have a contract with the Estonian Health Insurance Fund.
Dental care for children under 19 is generally free of charge if the child is insured and the dental clinic has a contract with the Estonian Health Insurance Fund.
Before booking an appointment, check the clinic’s prices, language availability and whether the service is covered or reimbursed by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund.
You can find more information on the Estonian Health Insurance Fund dental care page.
Health insurance and support for international students
All international students in Estonia must have valid health insurance for the whole period of their studies.
International students are not automatically covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. Your health insurance situation may depend on your citizenship, residence status, employment status and study level.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens should bring a valid European Health Insurance Card from their home country. However, this card does not replace health insurance in Estonia.
The European Health Insurance Card gives access only to medically necessary care during a temporary stay. This usually means treatment for an unexpected health problem that cannot wait until you return to your home country. It does not cover all costs. You may still have to pay patient fees, medicine co-payments, translation costs and other self-payment costs. The card also does not cover private healthcare services or transport between countries.
For this reason, you should check carefully whether you need additional private health insurance for your stay in Estonia.
Non-EU students usually need private health insurance that meets the requirements for their visa or temporary residence permit.
If you are a student at the University of Tartu or the Estonian University of Life Sciences, always check your university’s instructions about health insurance and student support services.
Counselling for students and university staff
University of Tartu and the Estonian University of Life Sciences also offer counselling and support services for students and university staff. These services can help with stress, study-related difficulties, adjustment problems and personal concerns. Services, booking conditions and languages may vary, so please check the latest information on your university’s website.
In an immediate emergency, always call 112.
Health insurance in Estonia
Health insurance in Estonia is provided through the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. In Estonian, it is called Tervisekassa.
Having an Estonian personal identification code, a registered address or a residence permit does not automatically mean that you have Estonian health insurance.
A European Health Insurance Card does not mean that you are covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. It gives access to medically necessary care during a temporary stay, but it does not cover all costs, private healthcare services or transport between countries.
Your health insurance status may depend on your employment, social tax payments, study level, age, residence status or other legal grounds. You can check your health insurance status through the Health Portal, the state portal eesti.ee or by contacting the Estonian Health Insurance Fund.
If you are covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, many healthcare services are paid for by the fund when they are medically necessary and provided by a healthcare provider that has a contract with the fund.
However, health insurance does not mean that all healthcare services are free of charge. You may still need to pay visit fees, co-payments, prescription medicine co-payments or fees for some certificates and documents.
You may also need to pay the full cost yourself if you choose a paid private appointment or a faster appointment outside the Estonian Health Insurance Fund waiting list.
If you do not have Estonian health insurance, you usually need to pay for healthcare services yourself. Each healthcare provider has its own price list, so always check the possible costs before booking an appointment.
If you rely on private or travel health insurance, check carefully what your insurance covers before booking a medical appointment. You may need to pay the healthcare provider yourself first and then apply for reimbursement from your insurance company. Conditions vary, so always contact your insurance provider for details.
Medicines and prescriptions
Prescription medicines can only be bought with a valid prescription. In Estonia, prescriptions are usually digital and linked to your Estonian personal identification code. In Estonian, a prescription is called retsept.
You can buy prescription medicines from Estonian pharmacies and e-pharmacies if you have a valid Estonian digital prescription. To buy a prescription medicine, you need to show an identity document with a photo and your personal Estonian identification code.
If you use regular prescription medicines, bring information about your current treatment when you come to Estonia. Not all medicines or brand names may be available in Estonia. If needed, contact a family doctor or another doctor in Estonia to discuss how to continue your treatment.
Doctors in Estonia usually prescribe medicines by active ingredient, not by brand name. This means that the pharmacist may offer you a medicine from a different manufacturer with the same active ingredient. If you are not sure which medicine to choose, ask the pharmacist for advice.
If you need to send medicines to Estonia or from Estonia to another country, check the rules of the State Agency of Medicines before sending the parcel. There are limits and restrictions on sending medicines by post or courier. Some medicines cannot be sent at all, and in some cases you may need a permit.
For prescription medicines sent by post or courier, you may need to provide a copy of the prescription or a doctor’s note confirming that the medicine is needed for treatment.
Before sending or ordering medicines across a border, always check the latest rules on the State Agency of Medicines website.
A prescription issued by a doctor in another EU country may be valid in Estonia, but the prescribed medicine may not be available here or may have a different name. If you plan to use a prescription in another EU country, ask your doctor for a prescription that includes all necessary information for cross-border use. If you have an e-prescription, you may also need a paper copy, as e-prescriptions are not always available across borders. Find more information about prescriptions in another EU country here.
Safety and support
Tartu is generally a safe city, but it is useful to know how to protect yourself, your belongings and your home, and where to turn if you need help.
In an immediate emergency or if someone is in danger, call 112. In Estonia, 112 is the emergency number for ambulance, police and rescue services.
For everyday safety, keep an eye on your personal belongings, lock your bicycle carefully and use a reflector when walking in the dark. If you go out in the evening, plan how you will get home safely.
Be careful with your identity documents, bank cards, passwords and PIN codes. In Estonia, PIN codes are used with ID cards, residence permit cards, Mobile-ID and Smart-ID to log in to e-services, confirm payments and sign documents digitally. Never share your PIN codes with anyone. Enter your PIN codes only when you have started the login, payment or digital signing process yourself.
If you experience violence, a crime, neglect, harmful treatment or a traumatic situation, help is available. You can contact Victim Support through the Palunabi website or call the victim support crisis helpline 116 006. Look for the contacts of different helplines here.
If you live in rented accommodation, make sure you understand basic home safety rules, including the use of smoke detectors, safe use of heating, electricity and household appliances. In winter, keep the home warm enough even when you are away. Do not turn the heating off completely, as this may cause frozen pipes, moisture, mould or damage to the building.
For non-emergency information and advice from the state helpline, you can also call 1247.
More information and useful contacts
For access to your personal health data, visit the Health Portal. After logging in securely, you can see information such as your prescriptions, referrals, test results, appointments and other health records, if they have been added to the Estonian Health Information System.
For information about Estonian health insurance, healthcare service fees, dental care benefits and prescription medicine discounts, visit the Estonian Health Insurance Fund website. In Estonian, the fund is called Tervisekassa.
For information about medicines, pharmacies and rules for sending medicines to or from Estonia, visit the State Agency of Medicines website. In Estonian, the agency is called Ravimiamet.
If you are facing practical or personal difficulties and need support from a social worker, contact the Department of Social Welfare and Health Care of Tartu City Government.
For non-emergency health advice, call the Family Doctor’s Advice Line 1220.
For emergency help, call 112.
If you have experienced violence, a crime, harmful treatment or a traumatic situation, you can contact Victim Support through the Palunabi website or call 116 006.