General information for patients
General information for patients regarding the organization and availability of general medical support
- The family physician is the primary medical contact for those entered in the practice list of the family doctor, meaning that the diseased person needs to consult, first and foremost, the family physician, in whose service list he or she is entered.
- Every family physician has one practice list with a size limit of 1,200–2,000 persons. In case the practice list exceeds 2400 persons, another health care professional with a doctor’s qualification has to work alongside the family physician.
- In case you are not satisfied with the provision of health services, you have the right to turn to the supervisory department of the Health Board by e-mail at [email protected]
About the organization of work of a family physician and a family nurse practitioner
- The family physician works alongside the family nurse practitioner, and their reception hours must fall between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on every working day. Reception must last until 6 p.m. on at least one day a week.
- The place of business of the family physician must be open and booking appointments for patients must be ensured on working days for no less than eight hours a day.
- Information regarding the opening and reception hours of the place of business of the family physician, and contact details (phone, e-mail address) must be visible in the family physician’s place of business and on their website, if it exists.
- The family physician shall notify patients, who and where to consult outside the reception hours to receive treatment or medical advice.
- During his or her temporary absence, the family physician shall organize another family physician to replace him or her.
- The family physician’s reception lasts for no less than 20 hours per week (on five working days a week and for no less than four hours a day, whereas there is at least one evening reception a week – until 6 p.m.).
- The reception is accompanied by the time foreseen in the job description of a family physician for other activities (home visits, preventive health checks for children of up to 18 years of age, consulting via means of communication).
- The reception of patients of the family nurse practitioner lasts for no less than 20 hours a week, accompanied by the time intended for other activities foreseen in the job description of the family nurse practitioner (home visits, preventive health checks for children of up to 18 years of age, consulting via means of communications).
- The provider of general medical care (family health centre) shall organize an appointment to a patient with an acute disorder on the day of address; in other cases, within five working days. In order to meet that term, the family physician shall extend his or her reception hours, if necessary.
- A medical certificate, which is not related to the provision of health service, must be issued to the patient within 15 days.
- An insured person is not obliged to pay a visit fee at the family physician’s. The fee for a family physician’s home visit is 5 euros. A visit fee may not be charged from a pregnant woman, whose pregnancy has been identified by the family physician, or from an insured person that is less than two years of age. The visit fee for a single home visit may not exceed 5 euros, regardless of the number of insured persons per the same home visit.
Advice line
- In case of less severe health problems, you can get help from the national family doctors’ advice line. Advice is given in Estonian and Russian.
- Advice line can reached the following numbers:
- 1220 (when calling from a mobile phone, the package-based rate is applied)
- +372 634 6630 (both domestic and international calls)