Choice of specialised health care

Under the Health Care Act, you have the right to choose the location of examinations and treatment in specialised medical care from any public hospital in Finland. Freedom of choice applies to non-urgent care.

How do I choose my place of treatment?

Specialised medical care always requires a physician's referral. It can be written by a physician of a health centre, occupational health care, a private clinic or a hospital. The referring physician will assess your need for further examination or treatment and make sure that the hospital of your choice has the specialisation and expertise necessary for the treatment. The physician will record your choice in the referral.

Once the referral has arrived at the hospital, your need for treatment will be assessed in accordance with the normal order of urgency.

The referral of a patient who comes to us for treatment under the freedom of choice is always recorded under the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, even if the place of treatment is Coxa or Heart Hospital.

Would you like to choose your own place of treatment? - video on the Dreambroker service (in Finnish)

Ask our freedom of choice counselling for more information

We are available by phone on 03 3116 7000 on weekdays 12–14. Our email address is valinnanvapaus@pirha.fi. For data security reasons, you should not include your personal identity code or health information in your email.

We can't answer any questions about your health, but we will tell you about, for example, freedom of choice referral practices and waiting times for access to treatment.

Tampere University Hospital Tays

The Tampere University Hospital Tays is responsible for providing specialised medical care services to around one million Finns. Our locations are Tays Central Hospital, Tays Hatanpää, Tays Valkeakoski and Tays Sastamala. Tays is part of the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa.

Coxa Hospital for Joint Replacement

The patient safety and treatment outcomes of Finland's only hospital specialising in joint replacement surgery are among the best in its field internationally. Coxa performs more than 6000 joint replacements every year. Coxa Hospital for Joint Replacement is located in the area of the Tampere University Hospital Tays. Coxa is part of the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa.

Tays Heart Hospital

A hospital specialising in cardiac care provides services to patients in need of cardiological or cardiothoracic treatment. Tays Heart Hospital is part of the Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa.