As a patient, you have the right to access and receive medical help when you need it. This includes the prevention and diagnosis of diseases, medical treatment and rehabilitation.
What is the right to access health care?
Article 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia states that everyone has the right to the protection of health.
This means that everyone has the right to seek and receive medical care. The right to access health care includes the prevention and diagnosis of a patient’s diseases, medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Healthcare providers in Estonia are responsible for the quality of their health care services.
Practical aspects
The right to receive medical help also has practical aspects.
Thus, the health care services must be:
- Physically accessible: medical institutions should be located in relative proximity to your home (this is especially important for rural areas). This also includes accessibility for persons with disabilities.
- Timely: health care services should be provided within a reasonable timeframe (depending on the patient’s health condition).
- Affordable: the cost of health care services should be set at a level that does not force patients to compromise other essential needs (food, utility costs, etc.).
note In Estonia, many health care services are state-paid: the larger part of the cost is covered by the State, yet patients sometimes need to pay a patient co-payment.
Read more about state-paid health care services in this Guide.