Information to Ukrainian war refugees

Emergency medical care

In the event of a serious or life-threatening health problem, all people in Estonia, including war refugees or persons in transit here are entitled to emergency medical care.

• Information and advice on health issues is available in English and Russian on the family physician advisory line 1220 (when calling from a foreign number (+372 634 6630). If necessary, the person is referred to the emergency number 112.
• Pharmacies are allowed to accept also paper prescriptions issued in Ukraine, except for narcotic and psychotropic drugs. The pharmacist should have a clear understanding on what kind of medicine has been prescribed for the person.
• Psychological support is available from the crisis support hotline 116 006 (+372 6147 393). In addition, you can also use online chat at www.palunabi.ee. Support is available in Estonian, English and Russian.

In addition to emergency care, Ukrainian war refugees have access to emergency dental care, COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccination and public health services.

Primary medical care

Primary care centers provide primary care to all Ukrainian war refugees. You do not have to be on the family physician's list to get medical help. The primary care centers provide medical care as needed and refer the patient to a medical specialist for further examinations or necessary procedures. You will find the list of primary care centers that provide medical assistance to war refugees: by clicking on the "I have a health concern that does not require emergency care" button in the diagram. 

In addition, primary medical care is provided by the

1. Confido AS Medical Center, Veerenni 51, 4th floor, , and at the Nautica Center Clinic at Ahtri 9, Tallinn and the Confido Emergency Clinic are located at Lasnamäe Centrum, Mustakivi Street 13, Tallinn. Contact phone +372 600 9090, email address ukraina [at] confido.ee. Additional information https://www.confido.ee/en/ukraine/
2. Qvalitas AS Medical Center, at the addresses Jalgpalli 1, Valukoja 7 and Narva mnt 7, Tallinn. Contact phone number 6051540. Additional information https://qvalitas.ee/services/health-service-for-ukrainian-war-refugees/?lang=en
3. Tallinna Eriarstikeskus OÜ (Specialist medical center), at Linnamäe tee 3, Tallinn. Contact phone number 608 2218, email address info [at] eriarstikeskus.ee. Additional information https://www.eriarstikeskus.ee/uudised/ukraina-kodanike-terviseabi-tallinna-eriarstikeskus/

Pre-school medical examination certificate of a Ukrainian child

Age-specific medical examination of a child, including pre-school examination, is carried out for children aged 6–8 years. The examination is necessary to assess the age-appropriate development of a healthy child. Pre-school medical examination, in particularly medical examination based on the age of the child, is important and necessary. In Estonia, pre-school medical examination of a child is usually carried out at a family health centre according to the guideline “Monitoring a healthy child”. The majority of family physicians have not been issuing paper certificates of a pre-school medical examination for at least a year, all information about the child’s health is available in the health information system (Patient Portal). The child’s medical examination data is available to school nurses in the health information system (information about the child’s growth, immunisations, etc.). In the case of children of Ukrainian war refugees, requesting certificates in paper form is also not justified, and digital health information should be used instead. Lack of a certificate cannot be an obstacle to admitting a child to school.

The following guidelines should be used in different situations:

a) If a Ukrainian child has previously undergone a general medical examination aimed at refugees

The school nurse as a health care professional finds everything they need in the health information system and accepts this information as the so-called health certificate. If, based on the data of the general medical examination, it is necessary to perform additional activities (weighing, measuring, checking the eyes, asking the parents for information about immunisations, etc.), the school nurse will perform these activities themselves. If necessary, the school nurse will refer the child to a family physician, helping to find the right family physician and explaining the details of going to the family physician (booking an appointment in advance etc.). It is recommended to arrange the case with the family physician in advance. The family physician examines the child according to the guideline for the medical examination of children and presents an invoice to the Health Insurance Fund for case-based financing. If the child already has a permanent place of residence in the respective area, the family physician can include the child in their practice list.

b) If a Ukrainian child has undergone a pre-school medical examination by a family physician or another doctor, who has sent the information to the Patient Portal but has not issued a paper certificate

Digital information must be accepted, just as it should be in the case of children with Estonian citizenship.

c) If a Ukrainian child has not undergone either a general or pre-school medical examination

The school nurse will refer the child to a family physician, helping to find the right family physician and explaining the details of going to the family physician (booking an appointment in advance etc.). It is recommended to arrange the case with the family physician in advance. A medical examination must be carried out within three months at the latest. The school nurse, on their part, can perform the activities within the competence of a nurse – weighing, measuring, checking the eyes, asking the parents for information about immunisations, and other ordinary activities. The family physician examines the child according to the guideline for the medical examination of children and presents an invoice to the Health Insurance Fund for case-based financing. If the child already has a permanent place of residence in the respective area, the family physician can include the child in their practice list.

The lack of a certificate on 1 September cannot be an obstacle to admitting the child to school.

Applying for temporary protection, residence permit and health insurance

By the order of the Government of the Republic of Estonia, starting from March 9, 2022, Ukrainian citizens and their family members fleeing from the war in their country can apply for temporary protection. Applications can be submitted at service points of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. Additional information available on the website of the Police and Border Guard Board: Temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens and their family members - Information regarding the war in Ukraine - Police and Border Guard Board

Ukrainian refugees who have been granted a residence permit and an Estonian personal identification code do not automatically receive health insurance cover in Estonia. They can apply for health insurance cover after receiving a residence permit on equal terms with Estonian people at www.haigekassa.ee/inimesele/ravikindlustus. For example, a person working based on an employment contract valid for more than one month or an unemployed person registered with an unemployment fund is entitled to health insurance. Persons equated with insured persons include children, pregnant women, dependent spouses, persons with partial or no ability to work, pensioners, members of a religious association, pupils, students. Read about getting health insurance here.

When a person under temporary protection receives health insurance cover, he or she will also be entitled to planned primary and specialist medical care under the same conditions as local insured persons. Read more about the Estonian medical care system for insured persons!

The application for the extension of the temporary protection residence permit can be submitted at the self-service of the Police and Border Guard Board. Additional information on the website of the Police and Border Guard Board https://www.politsei.ee/en/instructions/information-on-the-war-in-ukraine