terviseamet

Terviseamet, or the Estonian Health Board, is the national public health authority of Estonia. It is a government agency under the Ministry of Social Affairs. The board's mandate is to protect and promote public health, prevent disease, and support health promotion across the population.

The agency is responsible for surveillance of communicable diseases, vaccination and immunization programs, and the management of public health risks. It oversees environmental health and food safety, including drinking water quality, sanitation in food premises, and other consumer health protections. It provides guidance, supervision, and licensing related to health and health-related services, and it works with national and local authorities to implement health policies and programs. It conducts inspections and enforces health regulations in cooperation with other authorities.

Terviseamet collects and analyzes health data to monitor population health, produce statistics, and inform policy decisions. It communicates risk information to the public and supports health promotion campaigns addressing lifestyle-related diseases.

The agency operates through a central office in Tallinn and regional units, collaborating with municipalities, healthcare providers, researchers, and international partners. It is funded from the state budget and participates in national and European health initiatives.