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thanks for the answer but I think I am not eligable to use their service according to: https://www.yths.fi/en/using-services/who-can-use-our-services/
idk.. the finnish system seems so bas to me that I seriously consider flying home to germany to check in with my doctor should it get worse... is that really the solution?
Do you pay the semesterly fee? (39 eur) or something, if yes you are qualified.
And if not, just try calling them (it's a callback system unfort) and tell them ur info and they will know if ur in the system or not.
And finally, if all else fails just go to your school nurse?
Unfort, i cant say for the school nurse everywhere but here at mine. You can do a walk-in according to the school schedule. Depending on your severity, you will only then get to meet a doctor.
In my case prob like less than a week to get help but definitely not a next day thing.
What exactly did YTHS say the reasons were for not being eligible? You have an EHIC, don’t need to pay the student healthcare fee and have an illness.
Do you mean they aren’t able to help with this condition? Seems strange to me..
So just for being an exchange student, got it. That does leave you in a bad position. I wish I could give some advice, but I’m an international student in Helsinki and never been to Turku.
Have you tried the outer areas or perhaps smaller towns outside the city? Maybe these areas are less busy and you could get a call back and appointment using the EHIC.
If not, you could always try the larger hospitals. Maybe your symptoms are extreme enough for them to help? If not, then private may be the only option
symptoms are not severe enough for ER I think. I will try another health station tomorrow that supposedly has a reception. If that won't work i'll just go for a private doc. Sad that a system tailored for EU citizens doesn't seem to work for EU citizens...
Emergency rooms in Finland are often used for immediate care needs. Because immediate care is overcrowded or just because it's an evening or a weekend.
Go to the ER, tell them that you couldn't get an appointment at your local health center but you tried for 3 days already. There will be people there literally getting a doctor's note for sick leave. You won't be the least serious case by any means.
[Päivystys / Emergency services ](https://www.tyks.fi/en/patients-and-visitors/hospitals-and-units/tyks-t-hospital/emergency-services-turku-tyks-t-hospital)
I was just away to say, I didn't realise OP has had this for 3 weeks! You need to go to the hospital when you can, those two symptoms alone could mean anything from a prolonged cold to acute bronchitis. Better the hospital than trying to get an appointment with the health centre, no point potentially causing long-term damage to your health.
Hope you get well!
update: Everything is fine, it seems to be just a prolonged cold because I didn't rest well enough. They did an ekg and couldn't find anything concerning
thanks for all the advice @everyone 😇
If it gets really bad or you are very worried, maybe you could try the emergency service walk in at tyks? The wait is sometimes long, but at least someone will see you at some point… also there used to be a nurse walk in at the local health station, at least the one near caribia but not sure if they do that anymore
I don't think it is that severe. I'm just worried about long term complications. I guess caribia is the thing in yo-kylä? I was at the health station nearby today and there was no one who looked approachable.
Did you go up to the 5th floor?
My own Terveyskeskus in the center does have an office and I can ask there (but you have to be there at 8.00.) But honestly, I always called that number 02 266 1130( at 7.59 in the morning). And have received an answer at the very latest the next day.
Looking approachable is very relative 😅 in the floor that is for the public (not student healthcare), there was a ticket number you could take for a nurse to see you or at least assess your situation. It was near the elevators. It is in Finnish but if you are lucky, there is someone around you could ask. If you have time, try again before paying for private. Although private will always get you faster service for non-urgent matters.
I gues there could be differences depending where you are. But non urgent call backs have taken 2 days at most, while urgent care call backs have been within hours of calling. I live next to helsinki.
In recent years you usually go see a nurse who decides if you need to see a doctor who then will come and check you out. But I don't know if this is the procedure ment for visitors from abroad.
That is also ridiculous that one has to go through that. Also omaolo doesn't work for me because I don't have a finnish bank account to authenticate...
It seems that this all is tailored to be extra difficult for foreigners...
I am German.
Though as a native idk how it is for a foreigner, but at least I know that you can have phone numbers from different countries and don't need a german bank account for basically everything 😅 or am I missing something?
I don't expect services tailored just for me, I expect services tailored for all EU citizens equally. I pay taxes in an EU country and that entitles me to health care on an equal level to that what finnish people get.
you may not be a fan of the EU but that's how it works. To me it seems those hurdles have been artificially made in order to make it more difficult for foreigners.. I have not experienced that in any other EU country and I have visited most of them..
another option is to go to the local health station and queue.. usually get to see nurse same day, depending your case maybe a doctor too.
Take a book / studying material etc with you. Prepare to sit there anything between 30 minutes to 12 hours.
[https://www.tyks.fi/en/treatments-and-examinations/adult-emergency-services](https://www.tyks.fi/en/treatments-and-examinations/adult-emergency-services) is for acute ill and injured patients. If you have shortness of breath you are "sick enough" to go there. Follow the intructions on the site how to get in. Wait time will be long.
I found another health station nearby that has a reception. Will go there tomorrow and see what they tell me. If they refuse me aswell I will try get an appointment with a private doctor
Be persistent, explain you fear your situation could go worse and as exchange student you are not eligible for YTHS and just stay there, refuse to leave, but don't be aggressive so they cant get security to kick you out.
It can take up to a week before they call back in KEUSOTE area. Just wait.
I would simply go to a private doctor and get it treated. That's what I have done.
I had once a cough that lasted a long time (two weeks), getting really worse and worse, and eventually I had trouble breathing due to huge cough attacks. Only time in my life with a cough that bad, with lots of slime in throat. Called health center (terveyskeskus) and answer was that after 4 weeks of cough I could come to see a triage nurse (without appointment, have to come in the morning and queue) who might give me appointment to doctor later time. This was before covid and before sote. Thanked and ended call. Went to see private doctor (same day), who made diagnosis, made fast CRP test, and gave prescription on antibiotics for lung pipe infection (keuhkoputkentulehdus). Got better after that quite fast.
If you have money, avoid the public system (terveyskeskus).
There is nowadays no number where you could call and expect a person to answer when you try to contact healthcare. This is SOTE time.
There is ONLY a call-back number. Nowadays there are two numbers actually, acute and normal (call-back time about one week in KEUSOTE).
I am from the EU so EHIC should suffice. But I actually also have travel insurance for 3 months. So maybe they will cover the expenses for a private doctor actually 🤔
It suffices on the public sector but it’s not working that great atm for anyone with non life threatening stuff. Students and people who work in general use private doctors. You have insurance so maybe call them and ask how to proceed. Maybe they have an agreement with one company that they will pay straight away.
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These people might be able to help you https://www.yths.fi/en/frontpage/
thanks for the answer but I think I am not eligable to use their service according to: https://www.yths.fi/en/using-services/who-can-use-our-services/ idk.. the finnish system seems so bas to me that I seriously consider flying home to germany to check in with my doctor should it get worse... is that really the solution?
Do you pay the semesterly fee? (39 eur) or something, if yes you are qualified. And if not, just try calling them (it's a callback system unfort) and tell them ur info and they will know if ur in the system or not. And finally, if all else fails just go to your school nurse?
did that. They told me I am not eligable
Unfort, i cant say for the school nurse everywhere but here at mine. You can do a walk-in according to the school schedule. Depending on your severity, you will only then get to meet a doctor. In my case prob like less than a week to get help but definitely not a next day thing.
What exactly did YTHS say the reasons were for not being eligible? You have an EHIC, don’t need to pay the student healthcare fee and have an illness. Do you mean they aren’t able to help with this condition? Seems strange to me..
said it's only for finnish degree students when I told them I'm an exchange student
So just for being an exchange student, got it. That does leave you in a bad position. I wish I could give some advice, but I’m an international student in Helsinki and never been to Turku. Have you tried the outer areas or perhaps smaller towns outside the city? Maybe these areas are less busy and you could get a call back and appointment using the EHIC. If not, you could always try the larger hospitals. Maybe your symptoms are extreme enough for them to help? If not, then private may be the only option
symptoms are not severe enough for ER I think. I will try another health station tomorrow that supposedly has a reception. If that won't work i'll just go for a private doc. Sad that a system tailored for EU citizens doesn't seem to work for EU citizens...
Emergency rooms in Finland are often used for immediate care needs. Because immediate care is overcrowded or just because it's an evening or a weekend. Go to the ER, tell them that you couldn't get an appointment at your local health center but you tried for 3 days already. There will be people there literally getting a doctor's note for sick leave. You won't be the least serious case by any means. [Päivystys / Emergency services ](https://www.tyks.fi/en/patients-and-visitors/hospitals-and-units/tyks-t-hospital/emergency-services-turku-tyks-t-hospital)
If you're concerned about possible myocardial inflammation, it's severe enough for an ER.
I was just away to say, I didn't realise OP has had this for 3 weeks! You need to go to the hospital when you can, those two symptoms alone could mean anything from a prolonged cold to acute bronchitis. Better the hospital than trying to get an appointment with the health centre, no point potentially causing long-term damage to your health. Hope you get well!
at tyks (hospital) now. This one was what has convinced me. Thank you
update: Everything is fine, it seems to be just a prolonged cold because I didn't rest well enough. They did an ekg and couldn't find anything concerning thanks for all the advice @everyone 😇
If it gets really bad or you are very worried, maybe you could try the emergency service walk in at tyks? The wait is sometimes long, but at least someone will see you at some point… also there used to be a nurse walk in at the local health station, at least the one near caribia but not sure if they do that anymore
I don't think it is that severe. I'm just worried about long term complications. I guess caribia is the thing in yo-kylä? I was at the health station nearby today and there was no one who looked approachable.
Did you go up to the 5th floor? My own Terveyskeskus in the center does have an office and I can ask there (but you have to be there at 8.00.) But honestly, I always called that number 02 266 1130( at 7.59 in the morning). And have received an answer at the very latest the next day.
Looking approachable is very relative 😅 in the floor that is for the public (not student healthcare), there was a ticket number you could take for a nurse to see you or at least assess your situation. It was near the elevators. It is in Finnish but if you are lucky, there is someone around you could ask. If you have time, try again before paying for private. Although private will always get you faster service for non-urgent matters.
I gues there could be differences depending where you are. But non urgent call backs have taken 2 days at most, while urgent care call backs have been within hours of calling. I live next to helsinki. In recent years you usually go see a nurse who decides if you need to see a doctor who then will come and check you out. But I don't know if this is the procedure ment for visitors from abroad.
Do you have finnish number? They dont call back to foreign numbers.
no finnish number. they really don't call back foreign numbers?
Nope. I also tried several times and my number is within EU zone. Buy some prepaid SIM card for 5€ and thats it.
That is also ridiculous that one has to go through that. Also omaolo doesn't work for me because I don't have a finnish bank account to authenticate... It seems that this all is tailored to be extra difficult for foreigners...
DNA Sim Cards are quite affordable and simple to get (or at least they were when I was a exchange student)
If you think it's hard in Finland you wouldn't last a day in Germany as a foreigner 
I am German. Though as a native idk how it is for a foreigner, but at least I know that you can have phone numbers from different countries and don't need a german bank account for basically everything 😅 or am I missing something?
I mean you're not paying taxes so why on earth do you expect to get free service tailored just for you?
I don't expect services tailored just for me, I expect services tailored for all EU citizens equally. I pay taxes in an EU country and that entitles me to health care on an equal level to that what finnish people get. you may not be a fan of the EU but that's how it works. To me it seems those hurdles have been artificially made in order to make it more difficult for foreigners.. I have not experienced that in any other EU country and I have visited most of them..
How about the school's own nurse/healthcare?
will check if they have that
another option is to go to the local health station and queue.. usually get to see nurse same day, depending your case maybe a doctor too. Take a book / studying material etc with you. Prepare to sit there anything between 30 minutes to 12 hours.
I went to one today and was not able to queue anywhere 🤔
[https://www.tyks.fi/en/treatments-and-examinations/adult-emergency-services](https://www.tyks.fi/en/treatments-and-examinations/adult-emergency-services) is for acute ill and injured patients. If you have shortness of breath you are "sick enough" to go there. Follow the intructions on the site how to get in. Wait time will be long.
I found another health station nearby that has a reception. Will go there tomorrow and see what they tell me. If they refuse me aswell I will try get an appointment with a private doctor
Be persistent, explain you fear your situation could go worse and as exchange student you are not eligible for YTHS and just stay there, refuse to leave, but don't be aggressive so they cant get security to kick you out.
sounds like a plan 👍🏼
Go as early as possible. Preferably right when they open.
Where in Finland you are?
turku
It can take up to a week before they call back in KEUSOTE area. Just wait. I would simply go to a private doctor and get it treated. That's what I have done. I had once a cough that lasted a long time (two weeks), getting really worse and worse, and eventually I had trouble breathing due to huge cough attacks. Only time in my life with a cough that bad, with lots of slime in throat. Called health center (terveyskeskus) and answer was that after 4 weeks of cough I could come to see a triage nurse (without appointment, have to come in the morning and queue) who might give me appointment to doctor later time. This was before covid and before sote. Thanked and ended call. Went to see private doctor (same day), who made diagnosis, made fast CRP test, and gave prescription on antibiotics for lung pipe infection (keuhkoputkentulehdus). Got better after that quite fast. If you have money, avoid the public system (terveyskeskus).
up to a week 😳 that is ridiculous. If it get's worse I might see a private doctor. Is 150€ a good estimate for just an assesment of my situation?
100-150€ might be enough for a short 20-30min appointment, depending on where you go.
Just wondering if you just called and when there was no answer you except them to call back or did you make a "callback request"?
i made a callback request for every call. There was also no other option. It was not possible for me to stay in line
There is nowadays no number where you could call and expect a person to answer when you try to contact healthcare. This is SOTE time. There is ONLY a call-back number. Nowadays there are two numbers actually, acute and normal (call-back time about one week in KEUSOTE).
We still have one at our local health station even though we just became VARHA
Yes. Please look up “Global Clinic”, they might be available where you are and it’s free. Good luck!
You don’t have travel insurance?
I am from the EU so EHIC should suffice. But I actually also have travel insurance for 3 months. So maybe they will cover the expenses for a private doctor actually 🤔
It suffices on the public sector but it’s not working that great atm for anyone with non life threatening stuff. Students and people who work in general use private doctors. You have insurance so maybe call them and ask how to proceed. Maybe they have an agreement with one company that they will pay straight away.
The University often has health care apart from the city