Fi

Health Care Services

Important contact information:

  • General emergency number 112
    • You reach the ambulance, police and fire brigade by calling the general emergency number
    • Calls to 112 are free of charge. When dialing the emergency number, you do not need any area code.
    • Please do not call the number unless there is a genuine emergency
  • North Karelia Central Hospital
    • Tikkamäentie 16
  • Medical helpline in any urgent situation: 116117
  • Toxicological emergency: consultation +358 800 147 111
  • Public healthcare Stations: Siun Sote Health Stations and Emergency Care

Health care in Joensuu – public healthcare and private clinics

Degree students are eligible to use Finnish Student Health Service FSHS. Exchange students in Joensuu are recommended to use private clinics in non-urgent situations. In public health care, the fees are the same as for the Finns if you have an EHIC card. More information on the fees on Siun sote website.

You can use the services of private clinics e.g. to see a nurse, a dentist, a general practitioner or a specialist doctor. It may be easier to get an appointment from private clinics than from public health care center if the health problem is not acute. Booking appointments online is possible.

At private clinics you pay the fees of the appointment and treatment yourself. Later, students with EHI card or equivalent documents (citizens of Nordic countries, EU/EEA countries or Quebec) can go to Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) where they can be compensated for part of the medical fee. Alternatively, they can claim for the compensation from their own health insurance offices later, after returning to their home countries. Naturally, students (including those from non-EU-countries) can also claim for the compensations from their personal travel insurance.

Private clinics in Joensuu

The fees in private clinics are substantially higher but you might get an appointment sooner and claim back the cost later from your insurance company.

Students from EU, UK, Australia and Quebec (Canada)

All EU students are advised to obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC card) from their home country and always carry it with them. With this card, the students are entitled to medically necessary treatment at the same price as Finns. Please obtain the requested card already in your home country. If you do not have it, please ask your own health insurance office to send it to you.

UK students may use their EHIC card in Finland and other EU countries until its expiry date. The GHIC card (global health insurance card), which provides similar benefits as EHIC for UK nationals, replaces EHIC in the UK gradually as of 1.1.2021.

Finland has social security agreements related to health care with some countries Australia and the province of Quebec, Canada, but we advise you to carefully check the coverage of the agreement and conditions on which benefits are available at your own health insurance office before arriving in Finland.

Please note that despite the EHIC/GHIC card or the social security agreement between Finland and your country, personal travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Dentist

In case of an acute toothache or infection, contact the dental clinic where your need for care and level of urgency will be assessed. More information on Siun Sote website.

Dentist on call from Monday to Friday: tel. +358 13 330 2411.

Outside office hours call 116117 for consultation of the situation.

In addition to above mentioned public sector service, there are private dentists as well.

Insurance

Karelia University of Applied Sciences expects that all exchange and international students have a valid personal travel insurance during their stay in Joensuu. Karelia does not provide insurance for incoming students. This means that Karelia University of Applied Sciences is not responsible for any payments or arrangements should something happen.

Students who come from outside EU/EEA/Switzerland need a private insurance to cover their medical and drug expenses. Requirements for a suitable insurance are described on the MIGRI (Finnish Immigration Service) website. Please note that the requirement is different for exchange students and students coming to study the full degree in Finland!

Vaccinations

Please make sure that you have valid vaccinations against polio, tetanus, MPR and diphtheria and preferably also COVID-19 already in your home country. Read carefully the instructions that you receive before arrival. This is especially important for nursing, physiotherapy and social services students who aim to carry out clinical practice during their exchange period.

Pharmacies

Medicines are sold only at pharmacies (apteekki). Hygiene products are available in all supermarkets and department stores.

Yliopiston apteekki (address: Koskikatu 7) is open every day 8-23.

Other pharmacies are located in the centre and in different parts of Joensuu.

In case of crisis

We sincerely hope that your stay in Joensuu will be happy and rewarding, without any adversities and hardships. But one can never know what will happen here in Finland or back at home. Do not hesitate to contact the Karelia staff if you find yourself in any distressing situations, regardless of the time of day.

Contact person in case of crisis is any of the staff members, preferably:

  • Student counselor
  • Tutor teacher
  • Student welfare officer
  • International Coordinator

Write down and keep with you the contact information of your student counselor from PAKKI (Karelia´s Student Portal) – Services for Students (login with Karelia account).

It is also possible to consult professionals at

Crisis Helpline in Arabic and English +358 9 2525 0113
on Mon, Tue at 11-15, Wed at 13-16 and 17-21. Thu at 10-15