Patients Stayed Home - and in Country - During Strike
Despite unavailable non-emergency care, patients apparently weathered the nearly four-week health care strike stoically, without resorting to their right to go elsewhere in the EU.
Patient advocacy groups recommended that Estonians seek out care at foreign clinics during the strike, but the Health Insurance Fund says it has not received any documentation for such visits.
"The Health Insurance Fund has not received one application to receive medical care abroad due to the medics' strike in Estonia," said spokeswoman Evelin Koppel.
If they did go abroad, patients would be entitled to reimbursement of what the medical care would cost in Estonia, or if the treatment is not available in Estonia, the full price.
The Patients Advocacy Association issued its recommendation on October 10, more in light of overall waiting list lengths than the strike, which was then 10 days old.
"If the state is unable to fulfill its obligations under law, and I mean maximum waiting lists for patients, which are six weeks, I recommend patients go elsewhere to receive health care service and file a demand with the Health Insurance Fund, said Kaido Kolk of that organization.