Health care services

During the military service, you will have access to health care services free of charge.

Enter into service feeling well! All long-term illnesses must have been examined and taken care of and injuries treated prior to the service.  While in service, it is primarily possible to only examine and treat illnesses contracted and injuries sustained during the service time.

Entry health examination

All persons who start their military service will undergo entry health examination during the first two weeks of service.  If needed, your fitness for service will be re-evaluated.  The examination will include being interviewed by a nurse, and if necessary, an appointment by a general practitioner physician.

Vaccinations

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health makes decisions concerning vaccinations to be given to conscripts.   According to the Communicable Diseases Act, vaccinations are taken on a voluntary basis. Declining to take vaccinations does not prevent anyone from completing their military service, or lower their fitness for service class.  The vaccinations are given during the first two service weeks.

•    Tetanus-diphteria-pertussis (dtap)
•    Meningitidis ACWY,
•    Measles-mumps-rubella (MPR) and
•    Seasonal influenza

Depending on the local circumstances, other vaccinations may also be given (for example, tick-borne encephalitis).

Before entering into service, double check your vaccination information at your local municipal health care centre or student health care centre and bring this information documented with you when entering into service.

The garrison circumstances tend to offer plenty of room for viruses and other pathogens to spread around those who remain non-vaccinated.  Diseases have a tendency to become increasingly difficult in adult age.  For these reasons, for example, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has ordered the Defence Forces to provide the vaccinations listed above to all conscripts.

Health care services while in military service

From PVMoodle, you can print out (https://www.pvmoodle.fi/login/index.php) ”Sairastajan opas”, which provides you with information in a nutshell about health care services while in service.

Garrison health care centres will arrange for health care services for all who are doing their military service.  Specialised medical care will be provided by public hospitals. You can have access to examinations by a specialist in the public health care sector with a referral from the garrison health care centre.  

Please note that the garrison health care centre is not authorised to give any information to your family concerning your state of health without your written permission.

During office hours, you can ask for instructions at the health care centre of your unit. The health care centres will be accessible on weekdays.  These services will also cover the military training exercises and live firing exercises.  Detailed instructions concerning the garrison-specific health care service practicalities will be given at the start of the military service.  You can call the garrison health care centres via the Finnish Defence Forces’ switchboard,  Tel. +358 299 800.

Outside the office hours of the health care centres there will always be a national helpline available for those in military service.  If you become ill or injured while on leave, you can obtain information and instructions around the clock by calling:

• Tel. +358 299 576 888

If you become ill or injured while on leave,  always call your company (equiv.), and inform your brigade duty officer or guard commander, and your unit’s health care centre.

Questions or feedback concerning health care?

Contact primarily the health care centre that treated you.  Discuss with the persons who treated you, and tell them how you feel about the treatment.
If you wish to file a notice, the garrison patient ombudsman will assist you.  The patient ombudsman’s contact information is available at the health care centre.