Health Services in Turku
Info Bank’s web page on Health provides information about health services in Finland.
In Turku, primary health care services are given at nine health centre areas. The services cover both doctors’ and nurses’ surgeries. With an estimation of the need for treatment, all residents’ equal ability to get care is ensured. The services are provided in the daytime.
Health Services for Refugees, Returnees and Asylum Seekers
The Immigrant Services Office is the Social Services and Health Care Department’s joint service unit for persons with a refugee or returnee background who come to Turku. It provides them with the services required at the reception phase. An evaluation of the conditions of entry to Finland is made and the services of a health centre are provided at the Immigrant Services Office. Families with children may also use the services of a child welfare clinic at the Office during the early stages.
The Immigrant Services Office is located on Rauhankatu 14 b C, 3rd floor, 20100 Turku. Please check in with the doorman on arrival.
Health care services for asylum seekers are arranged at the reception centre.
Health Centres
There are 14 regional health centres in Turku. Your health centre is determined by your street address and postcode.
The health centres have both doctors’ and nurses’ surgeries.
During weekdays (Mon-Fri) between 8:00 and 16:00, your own health centre is your primary health care service point.
At other times, those requiring urgent care are treated at Municipal Health Care On-Call Services at Kunnallissairaalantie 20, 20700 Turku. Medical advice is available by telephone round-the-clock on 10023.
In life threatening situations call tel. 112 (Emergency Response Centre).
Appointments
Appointments to health care services.
Student Health Care
The Turku Social Services and Health Care Department’s Student Health Care offers health services to the students of upper secondary level vocational institutions and universities of applied sciences located in Turku, regardless of the student’s place of residence. The services are intended for students taking study programmes that entitle them to financial aid for students.
The student health care in universities takes place through the Finnish Student Health Service FSHS.
Renewing a Prescription
You can have a medical prescription you have received earlier renewed at health centres. Prescriptions are usually only renewed if you have received treatment at the health centre in question and if it was less than two years ago. Ask for more information at your health centre.
Vaccinations
In Finland all children can be vaccinated against nine infectious diseases for free. All the diseases that are prevented by vaccination are dangerous and, without prevention, may lead to death or permanent damage.
Adults living in Turku can have basic vaccinations and a prescription for a hepatitis vaccination at their own health centre. Children under school age are vaccinated at child welfare clinics and school age children receive their vaccinations from the school nurse. Ask for more information at your health centre.
On-Call Service
Health Centre’s On-Call Service, tel. 10023
Kunnallissairaalantie 20
Patients coming to receive treatment are treated during weekdays between 8:00-15:30 at their own health centres, which are determined by their street address. At other times care is provided at Municipal Health Care On-Call Services.
Health Services for Children and Adolescents
The child welfare clinic is intended for all families with children from 2 weeks old to school age. You can also call them and ask for advice. The nurse provides advice over the phone on weekdays between 12:00–13:00.
The contact information for child welfare clinic nurses can be found on the City of Turku website.
Health services at schools offer health care for pupils of comprehensive schools and upper secondary schools.
Other health services for children and adolescents include the Child Neurology Unit, Psychiatric Care for Children and Adolescents, Children and Adolescents’ Out-patient Clinic and Medical Rehabilitation for Children and Adolescents.
Pregnancy
More detailed information about pregnancy can be found on the Info Bank’s web page When You Are Pregnant.
Maternity clinics in Turku serve families who are expecting a baby and who live in Turku. The services are free-of-charge.
Maternity clinics tend to the future child’s and the expecting family’s health and well-being.
The contraception clinic serves under 25-year-old persons living in Turku in matters concerning contraception. Clients who are over 25 years old and who have, for example, a problem related to contraception can also use the services if they have a referral from a doctor, nurse or social worker. People of all ages who are seeking termination of a pregnancy are also among the clients at the contraception clinic. The contraception clinic is located on the premises of the Main Health Centre on Luolavuorentie 2, 2nd floor.
The services of Paletti, the special clinic for adults, are intended for young and adult disabled persons. At the clinic, a client receives psychological and social examinations and a basic health check. The clinic’s address is Luolavuorentie 2, 20700 Turku. Tel. 02- 2626153 on weekdays between 8:00-16:00.
The child upbringing and family counselling clinic deals with, and manages, problems that children, adolescents and their families have. The service is intended for families with children living in Turku. The professional help of a child psychiatrist, psychologist and social worker are available to families here.
Dental Care
Dental care is an important part of the primary health care services and its purpose is to attend to Turku residents’ oral health and urgent first aid.
Appointments can be made during weekdays, Monday to Friday between 8:00–16:00.
If you need to cancel your appointment, you may also do this at other times by leaving a message on voice mail. The telephone number for dental care appointments is 02-266 0644.
Appointments, cancelling appointments and enquiries for treatment can be made at the Dental Care Appointment Service.
Medication
In Finland, medication can only be bought at pharmacies. You can find more information on the City of Turku website.
Mental Health Services
Your own health centre is always the primary place of treatment for problems with mental health. Health centres are responsible for tending to the prevention of mental health problems, recognising symptoms and treating the most common and mild psychiatric illnesses, such as depression, panic disorder and life crises. In addition, for example maternity and child welfare clinics, school health care, the Social Services Department and the home health care for the elderly provide mental health services.
Find your health centre
More information about the most severe problems in mental health can be found here.
Other Health Services
The Turku City Hospitaloffers Turku residents specialised care in many specialised fields. You can get treatment mainly by a doctor’s or nurse’s referral.
Laboratory
Appointments for laboratory tests can be made over the Internet or by phone during weekdays Mon-Fri between 7:00–15:00 at the local network’s rate on 02 313 6321.
- instructions for making an appointment
- instructions concerning laboratory tests
- TYKSLAB’s sample points
Diagnostic Imaging Examinations (e.g. X-ray and Ultrasound)
An appointment must always be made for these examinations. The appointment is often made at a doctor’s surgery, out-patient clinic or ward at the same time as the referral is made.
The telephone number for the Turku City Hospital’s X-ray (Ward 141) Appointment Service is 02 313 2945 or 02 313 2922. The X-ray examination facilities are located on Kunnallissairaalantie 20, building 1, and they are open on weekdays between 8:00–20:00 and on weekends between 8:00–16:00.
The Turku University Hospital (TYKS) is responsible for special health care in the Hospital District of Southwest Finland and provides services in the area. TYKS Main Hospital’s address: Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku.
Private health services complement public health care but they are subject to a charge. There are many private doctors and dentists offering their services in Turku. Some websites of private medical centres include, for example, www.pulssi.fi, www.mehilainen.fi and www.terveystalo.com.