This blog post was written by our student ambassador Ana, who is a student of the semiotics programme at the University of Tartu.

You just came to Estonia to start your study adventure, and now you are dealing with the settling-in and administration process. You found an accommodation, you applied for a TRP (temporary residence permit) or Estonian ID card if you are an EU citizen, and you registered all the courses in the study information system. Well done! It appears that you have completed almost all the essential tasks of settling in Estonia. But what about finding a family doctor? As you know, good health is the most important factor for achieving great scores and living in Estonia care free. In this blog, I will write about my own experience with doctors and hospitals, and how I became a regular patient of a private clinic where I found a perfect doctor for me. I hope this blog will be helpful to all of you trying to find a family doctor or for those who want to know more about the health system of Estonia.

Finding a family doctor is a piece of cake! Is it though?

Tartu Welcome center offers a list of family doctors to all the new students. So, students can choose from the list and contact the doctor via email or a phone call. Then, if the doctor accepts the student as a new patient, they make a first appointment and go from there. One can also find a list of family doctors online. To be completely honest, finding a family doctor in Tartu is not an easy task at all. Most of the students who have just came to Estonia have trouble finding a family doctor since most of the doctors are fully booked and are usually not taking new patients. Also, there is a language barrier. Since most of the new students don't speak Estonian and are counting on English-speaking doctors, some doctors don't speak English, just Estonian or russian. Since the state hospital doctors are usually unavailable, why not try private clinics in Tartu? You get your appointments pretty quickly, you don’t have to worry about getting rejected, and the service is on the highest level.  I know they cost money, but you can't put a price on your own health, and sometimes you have to take the chance. I will now share my own story and experience of becoming a regular patient of a private hospital and how it saved my life and health.

How do I meet my ideal doctor and clinic?

As I mentioned before, I was struggling to find a family doctor even after learning to speak Estonian fluently. Whenever I wrote to any of them, their usual responses were: "Sorry, I am fully booked" or "I can't take new patients at the moment". I usually don't get sick very often, sometimes I catch a mild cold or have a sore throat during wintertime, but I treat them with rest, cough drops, and hot tea. Last year, I had pneumonia and still didn't go to see a doctor. It just passed in 3 days. Yes, my physical health is very strong and in great shape, but my mental health is a completely different story. As I am diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), I have mental episodes on a daily basis. I am pretty much used to that as well,  but one trauma that occurred a year ago at the University really shook me up and didn't allow me to function properly. My psychologist back then suggested I see a psychiatrist, as the effects of the trauma were way too strong for her to handle. I didn't know what to do, since I didn't have a family doctor. Who to seek...in whom to confide....Confido! Then I remembered the Confido private clinic, which actually saved me from not so pleasant situations before. I got my booster shot against COVID-19 at the Confido clinic in Tartu 4 years ago, as it was necessary back then. I also got a doctor's note for my first academic leave from the Confido clinic. So, Confido to the rescue again! I found a psychiatrist on Confido's website and booked an appointment online. One can book an on-site consultation or a video consultation with the psychiatrist. The first consultation lasts about 50 minutes, while the repeat consultation lasts about 25 minutes. My first ever consultation was via video call, and I remember being pretty nervous. The psychiatrist was so nice and supportive. She listened carefully to my problems and the trauma and gave me really amazing and helpful advice.  Since then, I became her regular patient, and once a month, she successfully defeated all my fears, traumas, anxiety attacks, and insecurities like a Wonder Woman or Xena the warrior princess, but for the psyche. My trauma is completely cured thanks to her, and thus, I became a regular patient of the Confido clinic as well. For the first time in my life, I am actually looking forward to seeing a doctor and going to the hospital. And that is, students and readers, the story of how I met my ideal doctor and a clinic. Confido clinic also provides all sorts of medical services, and it's a state of the art modern clinic which helps out with various health issues. Just go to their website, register yourself with your e-mail and personal ID code, and that's it. You can book an appointment online. So easy and so quick.

I hope this blog was helpful for all of you students still struggling to find a family doctor, and that you will consider visiting Confido or another private clinic in Estonia. I know private clinics are pricey, but as I said before, you can't put a price on health, and help in all sorts of forms is always welcome. 

Find out which international degree programmes are available for you in Estonia. 

Read more blog posts:

• Mental Health & Wellbeing – Adapting to a New Country
• How to Find a Family Doctor in Estonia
• New place, new life?