Where to seek help with health problems
For most health problems, home treatment, a pharmacist, or a family doctor can help – the emergency medical service and ambulance are for life-threatening situations. If in doubt, call the family doctor's advice line 1220, which is open 24 hours a day.
Where and when to seek help?
Home treatment and pharmacy
When to seek help from a pharmacist?
For minor health problems, home treatment is often sufficient. If you have any questions about over-the-counter medicines and medical devices, feel free to ask your pharmacist. They are medical professionals who can provide expert advice.
For minor illnesses and minor injuries
- Runny nose, cough, sore throat
- Mild headaches, stomachaches, joint or muscle pain
- Allergy symptoms (sneezing, watery eyes)
- Skin problems (dryness, rash, minor burns)
- Digestive problems (constipation/diarrhea, stomach ache)
- Eye irritation, redness, dryness
- Minor injuries (scratches, abrasions, bruises)
For minor illnesses and minor injuries
- Runny nose, cough, sore throat
- Mild headaches, stomachaches, joint or muscle pain
- Allergy symptoms (sneezing, watery eyes)
- Skin problems (dryness, rash, minor burns)
- Digestive problems (constipation/diarrhea, stomach ache)
- Eye irritation, redness, dryness
- Minor injuries (scratches, abrasions, bruises)
To obtain medical aids and supplies
- First aid supplies (plasters, bandages, disinfectants)
- Devices (blood pressure monitors, thermometers, inhalers, etc.)
- Rapid tests (flu, COVID-19, pregnancy and ovulation tests)
To obtain medical aids and supplies
- First aid supplies (plasters, bandages, disinfectants)
- Devices (blood pressure monitors, thermometers, inhalers, etc.)
- Rapid tests (flu, COVID-19, pregnancy and ovulation tests)
The pharmacist can also help if you need advice
- on choosing and safely using medication,
- on maintaining your daily health,
- or on removing ticks.
The pharmacist can also help if you need advice
- on choosing and safely using medication,
- on maintaining your daily health,
- or on removing ticks.
Family doctor center
When should you contact your family doctor center?
If your symptoms do not disappear or worsen within a week, contact your family doctor center. Your family doctor and nurse are familiar with your medical history and are your primary advisors in case of health problems that do not require urgent intervention and are not life-threatening.
- Your first point of contact at the family doctor center is often the family nurse. They will assess the situation, advise you, and resolve many concerns quickly and competently.
- If your family doctor decides that you need to be referred to a specialist, they will conduct an e-consultation with the specialist or issue a digital referral letter.
Vaata "minu töölaual", millist digikanalit sinu perearst kasutab. Sageli saab veebis:
- kirjeldada tervisemuret
- tellida kordusretsepti
- alustada ja lõpetada haigus- või hoolduslehe
- esitada soovi vaktsineerimiseks või tervisetõendiks
Vaata "minu töölaual", millist digikanalit sinu perearst kasutab. Sageli saab veebis:
- kirjeldada tervisemuret
- tellida kordusretsepti
- alustada ja lõpetada haigus- või hoolduslehe
- esitada soovi vaktsineerimiseks või tervisetõendiks
Acute but not life-threatening illness
- Prolonged cough, runny nose, fever, allergies
- Unexpected rash, abscess, ulcers, herpes
- Moderate or prolonged head, back, or joint pain
- Minor injuries (concussion, sprain, cut)
- Eye infection
Acute but not life-threatening illness
- Prolonged cough, runny nose, fever, allergies
- Unexpected rash, abscess, ulcers, herpes
- Moderate or prolonged head, back, or joint pain
- Minor injuries (concussion, sprain, cut)
- Eye infection
Monitoring and treatment of long-term illnesses
- Diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, etc.
- Prescription renewal
Monitoring and treatment of long-term illnesses
- Diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, etc.
- Prescription renewal
Prevention, procedures, tests
· Scheduled health check-ups
· Vaccinations (for children and adults)
· Laboratory tests (blood, urine, stool) and other examinations
· Simple procedures (e.g., removal of stitches, wound dressing)
Prevention, procedures, tests
· Scheduled health check-ups
· Vaccinations (for children and adults)
· Laboratory tests (blood, urine, stool) and other examinations
· Simple procedures (e.g., removal of stitches, wound dressing)
Certificates and counseling
- Opening and closing of sick leave certificates
- Health certificates (e.g., for driver's licenses, work)
- Lifestyle counseling (nutrition, exercise)
Certificates and counseling
- Opening and closing of sick leave certificates
- Health certificates (e.g., for driver's licenses, work)
- Lifestyle counseling (nutrition, exercise)
Mental health concerns
- Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders
- Behavioral and addiction problems
Mental health concerns
- Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders
- Behavioral and addiction problems
Family doctor advice line 1220
When to call 1220?
If you are unsure where to turn with a health concern or need advice on home treatment, call 1220.
The family doctor's advice line is your 24-hour helper. Experienced healthcare professionals will help you decide whether your concern requires urgent intervention or can be treated at home.
- In Estonian and Russian 24 hours a day
- In English every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Call charges according to your operator's standard rates
- Personalized Estonian-language online counseling every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
When calling from abroad, dial +372 634 6630.
If you are unsure where to turn with a health concern or need advice on home treatment, call 1220.
The family doctor's advice line is your 24-hour helper. Experienced healthcare professionals will help you decide whether your concern requires urgent intervention or can be treated at home.
- In Estonian and Russian 24 hours a day
- In English every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Call charges according to your operator's standard rates
- Personalized Estonian-language online counseling every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
When calling from abroad, dial +372 634 6630.
If you are unsure where to turn with a health concern or need advice on home treatment, call 1220.
The family doctor's advice line is your 24-hour helper. Experienced healthcare professionals will help you decide whether your concern requires urgent intervention or can be treated at home.
- In Estonian and Russian 24 hours a day
- In English every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Call charges according to your operator's standard rates
- Personalized Estonian-language online counseling every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
When calling from abroad, dial +372 634 6630.
If your family doctor is unavailable
- you have a health concern in the evening, on the weekend, or on a public holiday
- you urgently need to renew a prescription
- you want to report the need for a sick note.
If your family doctor is unavailable
- you have a health concern in the evening, on the weekend, or on a public holiday
- you urgently need to renew a prescription
- you want to report the need for a sick note.
You need professional advice and assessment
- where to go with your health concerns
- for home treatment of minor health problems (e.g., viral diseases, minor trauma).
You need professional advice and assessment
- where to go with your health concerns
- for home treatment of minor health problems (e.g., viral diseases, minor trauma).
Emergency Medical Services
When to contact the Emergency Medical Services?
Go to the Emergency Medical Services if you suspect that your condition or that of a loved one is life-threatening or will lead to permanent damage to health.
Go to the Emergency Medical Services if you suspect that your condition or that of a loved one is life-threatening or will lead to permanent damage to health.
Go to the Emergency Medical Services if you suspect that your condition or that of a loved one is life-threatening or will lead to permanent damage to health.
If the condition is potentially life-threatening
- Shortness of breath, lack of air, severe asthma attack
- Acute allergic reaction (especially if accompanied by difficulty breathing or swelling)
- Poisoning (e.g., chemical ingestion, drug overdose, carbon monoxide poisoning). For initial advice, call the poison information hotline at 16662.
- Foreign body in the respiratory tract, digestive tract, or elsewhere
- Heart rhythm disturbances lasting up to 48 hours or heart rhythm disturbances lasting more than 48 hours accompanied by shortness of breath and chest pain
- Extreme weakness, lack of energy
- Suspected thrombosis (e.g., sudden swelling, redness, and pain in one leg)
- Suspected stroke (e.g., paralysis of one side of the face)
If the condition is potentially life-threatening
- Shortness of breath, lack of air, severe asthma attack
- Acute allergic reaction (especially if accompanied by difficulty breathing or swelling)
- Poisoning (e.g., chemical ingestion, drug overdose, carbon monoxide poisoning). For initial advice, call the poison information hotline at 16662.
- Foreign body in the respiratory tract, digestive tract, or elsewhere
- Heart rhythm disturbances lasting up to 48 hours or heart rhythm disturbances lasting more than 48 hours accompanied by shortness of breath and chest pain
- Extreme weakness, lack of energy
- Suspected thrombosis (e.g., sudden swelling, redness, and pain in one leg)
- Suspected stroke (e.g., paralysis of one side of the face)
Acute medical conditions and severe pain
- Sudden onset of severe pain that does not respond to medication (e.g., severe headache, abdominal pain, or back pain)
- High fever (above 38.5 °C) that does not respond to medication
- Acute skin inflammation accompanied by pain and fever
- Inability to urinate
Acute medical conditions and severe pain
- Sudden onset of severe pain that does not respond to medication (e.g., severe headache, abdominal pain, or back pain)
- High fever (above 38.5 °C) that does not respond to medication
- Acute skin inflammation accompanied by pain and fever
- Inability to urinate
Mental health crisis
- Acute mental disorders (e.g., acute psychosis, confusion)
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Mental health crisis
- Acute mental disorders (e.g., acute psychosis, confusion)
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Tõsised traumad, vigastused ja verejooks
- Värske trauma (nt luumurrukahtlus, millele viitab tugev paistetus, jäseme kuju muutus või piiratud liikuvus)
- Suuremad lahtised haavad, äge põletus või söövitus
- Äge ja raskesti peatatav verejooks
- Loomahammustus
Tõsised traumad, vigastused ja verejooks
- Värske trauma (nt luumurrukahtlus, millele viitab tugev paistetus, jäseme kuju muutus või piiratud liikuvus)
- Suuremad lahtised haavad, äge põletus või söövitus
- Äge ja raskesti peatatav verejooks
- Loomahammustus
Ambulance
When should you call an ambulance?
Cessation of vital functions or risk thereof
- Loss of consciousness, severe breathing difficulties or cessation of breathing
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, paleness, very rapid pulse
Cessation of vital functions or risk thereof
- Loss of consciousness, severe breathing difficulties or cessation of breathing
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, paleness, very rapid pulse
Acute conditions related to the nervous system
- Unexpected speech disorder or paralysis
- Seizure lasting several minutes, with no recovery
- Severe and medication-resistant pain in the head, chest or abdomen
Acute conditions related to the nervous system
- Unexpected speech disorder or paralysis
- Seizure lasting several minutes, with no recovery
- Severe and medication-resistant pain in the head, chest or abdomen
Trauma and injuries
- Injury or trauma resulting in inability to move
- Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
- Acute burns or chemical burns
Trauma and injuries
- Injury or trauma resulting in inability to move
- Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
- Acute burns or chemical burns
Poisoning and allergies
- Acute poisoning accompanied by loss of consciousness or severe weakness, paleness, visual disturbances, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmia
- Acute allergic reaction accompanied by shortness of breath, swelling of the tongue, difficulty swallowing
- Foreign body in the respiratory tract, digestive tract, or elsewhere
Poisoning and allergies
- Acute poisoning accompanied by loss of consciousness or severe weakness, paleness, visual disturbances, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmia
- Acute allergic reaction accompanied by shortness of breath, swelling of the tongue, difficulty swallowing
- Foreign body in the respiratory tract, digestive tract, or elsewhere
Mürgistused ja allergiad
- Äge mürgistusseisund, millega kaasneb teadvushäire või suur nõrkus, kahvatus, nägemishäired, krambid, südamerütmihäired
- Äge allergiline reaktsioon, millega kaasneb õhupuudus, keeleturse, neelamistakistus
- Võõrkeha hingamisteedes, seedetraktis või mujal
Mürgistused ja allergiad
- Äge mürgistusseisund, millega kaasneb teadvushäire või suur nõrkus, kahvatus, nägemishäired, krambid, südamerütmihäired
- Äge allergiline reaktsioon, millega kaasneb õhupuudus, keeleturse, neelamistakistus
- Võõrkeha hingamisteedes, seedetraktis või mujal
The guide on where to go with health concerns (PDF, EST)(Opens in new tab)north_easton where to go with health concerns.
For information on healthy eating, see: toitumine.ee(Opens in new tab)north_east
For mental health support and tips, visit: peaasi.ee(Opens in new tab)north_east
For reliable information on vaccination, visit: vaktsineeri.ee(Opens in new tab)north_east
The guide on where to go with health concerns (PDF, EST)(Opens in new tab)north_easton where to go with health concerns.
For information on healthy eating, see: toitumine.ee(Opens in new tab)north_east
For mental health support and tips, visit: peaasi.ee(Opens in new tab)north_east
For reliable information on vaccination, visit: vaktsineeri.ee(Opens in new tab)north_east
The guide on where to go with health concerns (PDF, EST)(Opens in new tab)north_easton where to go with health concerns.
For information on healthy eating, see: toitumine.ee(Opens in new tab)north_east
For mental health support and tips, visit: peaasi.ee(Opens in new tab)north_east
For reliable information on vaccination, visit: vaktsineeri.ee(Opens in new tab)north_east