We all know that no injury or illness comes with a warning. And let’s be honest, health issues tend to occur at the most inconvenient times. Whether it is a fever, stomach bug or rash – one thing is for sure, knowing that there is help available, makes you feel better.
That is what primary healthcare is for. It can cover most health concerns without too much hassle and stress. With a primary healthcare doctor, you will skip long queues to a specialist doctor and won’t have to spook yourself by using Google to check what are potential outcomes of your symptoms.
In this article, we will talk about what primary healthcare is and why it is important.
What is Primary Healthcare?
There are four different levels of healthcare:
- Primary
- Secondary (Specialized medical care provided by doctors or health professionals to patients that need specialized care. This is mostly given in hospitals.)
- Tertiary ( Highly specialized healthcare that is given over a period of time)
- Quaternary (Highly advanced and specialized healthcare that is not widely accessible and is usually offered only a limited number of times).
Primary healthcare is essential healthcare. It is a type of healthcare that has been made accessible to everyone. From individual people to families and communities. The purpose of primary healthcare is to maintain better and more accessible health services for everyone in need.
It is a comprehensive and cheaper way to increase people’s physical and mental health, as well as their overall well-being. Knowing that help for any health problems is out there when you need it gives you security and peace of mind.
Primary healthcare connects a patient through their doctor with different health organizations, if needed, to help a person’s health needs furthermore. You won’t have to go searching for the cure-all on your own. Instead, you have a qualified professional looking out for your best interest. This also guarantees that the needed healthcare is achieved in a way that focuses on your personal needs.
Primary healthcare has a wide spectrum of services available. Here are some of them:
- Diagnosis and help
- Tests and analysis
- Prevention of health problems
- Prescription drugs
- Vaccinations
- Regular checkups
In addition to solving a person’s health problems, an important part of primary healthcare services is also health promotion and disease prevention, assistance coordination, and linking of different services. In case of any health concerns or threats, a person’s first point of contact is usually their doctor.
Primary healthcare is extremely important during worldwide crises, like Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. A well-functioning health system is vital in times of uncertainty and fear. It allows people to know that they are taken care of and can rely on quality help whenever needed.
More and more investments have been made in primary healthcare to improve its quality and accessibility in health performance systems. Telehealth is one of them. A truly innovative way to deliver healthcare services to patients online, conveniently and quickly. Read more about primary healthcare providers in Estonia here.
Primary healthcare should be a “front door” to every health system. It plays a big role in everyone’s life to know why primary healthcare is important and where to get the best services for your needs.
The purpose of primary healthcare is to maintain better and more accessible health services for everyone in need.
How can I get primary healthcare in Estonia?
Like many other European countries, Estonia also offers its population affordable public healthcare, which is mainly paid by the government. Estonia’s primary healthcare is accessible for almost everybody in Estonia’s population. The health insurance system, which is run by EHIF (otherwise known as the Estonian Health Insurance Fund), covers almost 94% of the country’s population.
In Estonia, the healthcare system is regulated by the Healthcare Services Organization Act, which stipulates the organization and requirements for the provision of healthcare services, as well as the management, financing and supervision of healthcare.
Healthcare services are provided when the person is insured, has fallen sick or needs health-related advice. In a situation where you don’t have health insurance but need help, a great option is telehealth, like Salu. You will be connected with a qualified medical professional online from the comfort of your own home.
The most known practice in Estonia is to find a family doctor who has availability on their patient list. The family doctor is the go-to person when issues with health occur. A physician diagnoses and treats diseases, monitors the healing process, prescribes medication, refers to a specialist for further analysis if needed and much more. They also advise on activities to prevent injuries and poisoning and monitor chronically ill patients and a child’s development. They also are in charge of vaccinations. A member and support person in the family doctor’s team is the family nurse, who advises critically ill and chronically ill patients, performs tests, writes out prescriptions, etc.
In recent years, this option has become more and more difficult for new patients to adapt to since people can’t find the right doctor for their needs. Whether it is a language barrier, location issues or too long of a wait time – Salu can help you out! We offer all primary healthcare services with an option to be added to a family doctor’s patient list. Salu will do all the searching and paperwork for you.
It is important to know what the options for primary healthcare in every country are, especially the one you are living in. It is the fastest and most affordable way to get the medical help you should ever need. Take your time to find one that works best for you and your needs. The primary healthcare option you choose should make you feel confident and secure. Knowing that when problems with health show up, you’ll have someone to turn to for solutions. Salu’s doctors are available for you whenever and wherever you need them the most!
