An outline of where to go or who to call in the event that an emergency situation arises while you are visiting Helsinki.
UPDATE: If you suspect that you have contracted the coronavirus please follow the guidelines provided by the city. In case of mild symptoms, self-isolate at home. If your symptoms are worsening, call the Helsinki Coronavirus helpline tel. 09 310 10024 (weekdays 7-20). At other times call the Medical helpline, tel. 116 117. Read more at the city’s website here.
General Emergencies
The general emergency number for police, fire and ambulance services is 112.
Medical Care
24-hour emergency service is available at Haartman Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, (tel. 09 3106 3231). You can also contact the Helsinki University Central Hospital (HYKS, tel. 09 4711), which will direct you to the appropriate hospital.
You can find more information about emergency medical services and treatment locations on the city’s website at www.hel.fi.
Medical services in Helsinki are efficient, but the cost and waiting times vary considerably. Travellers are advised to take out comprehensive travel insurance. This will allow the quickest and most appropriate treatment in private clinics, which can otherwise be quite expensive.
Holders of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are covered for emergency treatment, although they are still required to pay the standard fees. For non-urgent medical problems, contact the nearest health centre (terveysasema).
(Image: Matti Snellman)
Dental Care
Emergency dental care can be reserved by phone (09 310 51400) from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is provided at Ruskeasuo Dental Clinic at Mannerheimintie 172.
Outside of those hours service is provided at the Surgical Hospital, Kasarmikatu 11 -13 (entrance U). To make an appointment on evening or weekends call 09 471 71110; during holidays call 09 310 10023.
Some private services also provide 24-hour dental emergency care, such as Stardent (tel. 0600 065 000, Mannerheimintie 62 and Vilhovuorenkatu 3).
Pharmacies
“Apteekki” is the Finnish word for pharmacy. There are more than one hundred pharmacies in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The pharmacy located at Mannerheimintie 5 is open daily from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m on weekends. There is a 24-hour pharmacy further north at Mannerheimintie 96.
