The health care system includes all the people, institutions and resources involved in health services.
Health care system in Estonia
The Health Service Organisation Act of Estonia defines health care as:
“the activities of health care professionals for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of diseases, injuries or intoxication in order to reduce the malaise of persons, prevent the deterioration of their state of health or development of the diseases, and restore their health”.
In the Estonian healthcare system, priority is often given based on medical need, urgency, and the potential for treatment to improve health outcomes. However, certain groups can have specific provisions or additional support (children, pregnant women, elderly and disabled persons, unemployed persons and patients with chronic conditions).
You will find more detailed regulations regarding health care services in the Health Service Organisation Act and Health Insurance Act.
Actors in the health care system
The main actors who interact in the health care system are:
1. The State
- formulates and adopts health-related laws and policies
- establishes and supervises a network of hospitals, clinics and other medical institutions
- certifies medical professionals
- adopts budget / financing policies
- manages the health information system
- determines liability in case of violations
- protects patients’ rights in case of violation
2. The health service providers (medical personnel, institutions and associations) provide medical care
3. The general public interacts with the health service providers and receives medical care. This also includes non-governmental organisations.
Different types of health care
You may get different types of health care depending on the condition of your health:
Means health services which are provided by health care professionals in situations where postponement of care or failure to provide care may cause the death or permanent damage to the health of the person requiring care.
Means out-patient health services which are provided by family physicians and health care professionals working together with them.
Means out-patient or in-patient health services which are provided by medical specialists or dentists and health care professionals working together with them.
Means out-patient or in-patient health services which are provided by nurses and midwives together with family physicians, medical specialists or dentists, or independently.
Means out-patient or in-patient health services which are provided by midwives together with a family physician or medical specialist or independently.
Health care services are not free of charge. They may be:
- privately funded (by the patient or a third party)