Haigusleht

Haigusleht is the Estonian term for a medical certificate that documents temporary incapacity to work due to illness or injury. Issued by a licensed physician, it serves as an official record allowing an employee to be absent from work and to claim sickness benefits from the national health insurance system.

A haigusleht typically states the start and end dates of the incapacity and may include a brief description of the medical condition. It may also note any activity restrictions, while the privacy rules generally limit disclosure of specific diagnoses to protect the patient’s medical information. If the illness lasts longer than initially expected, the certificate can be extended or updated by the physician.

Procedure and consequences: The employee presents the haigusleht to the employer, who records the absence and processes payroll as required. The employee may then apply for sickness benefits from the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Haigekassa). The precise duration of leave and the amount of benefits are determined by current law and fund regulations.

Electronic formats are increasingly common, with certificates or notices transmitted digitally between healthcare providers, employers, and the insurance fund to streamline processing and reduce administrative delays.

Haigusleht thus functions as the formal mechanism to justify illness-related absence, support income during temporary incapacity, and ensure proper coordination between healthcare, employment, and social insurance systems.