Tervisehoiu

Tervisehoiu is the Estonian term for health care provision and public health activities aimed at protecting and improving people’s health. It encompasses preventive care, primary and specialist medical services, hospital care, rehabilitation and palliative care, mental health services, maternal and child health, and dental care with coverage varying by service. The goal of tervisehoiu is to ensure access to needed care regardless of income or location, with funding coming from a mix of compulsory health insurance, government contributions, and user co-payments.

In Estonia, tervisehoiu is organized around a tiered system of care. Primary health care is usually delivered by family doctors and nurse teams who coordinate referrals to specialist and hospital services. Public health authorities and local governments run preventive programs, vaccinations and health promotion activities. The Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Haigekassa) finances insured services, while the state budget and local tax revenues support broader health initiatives. Some services may require co-payments or have caps on patient charges.

Estonia has pursued digital health development within tervisehoiu, including electronic health records, e-prescriptions and secure data exchange between providers. These tools aim to improve safety, efficiency and patient access to information. Policy reforms over the past decade have focused on strengthening primary care, improving care coordination, and ensuring sustainable funding to respond to an aging population and growing chronic disease burden.

Overall, tervisehoiu in Estonia seeks universal coverage and quality care through a combination of public funding, social health insurance, effective provider networks, and digital innovations.