Estonia

On-call family doctor service to start in Tallinn in October

September 27, 2025
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From 1 October, the City of Tallinn will offer an on-call family doctor service funded by the city. The service will be provided by OÜ Ennetuskliinik.

Deputy Mayor Karl Sander Kase highlighted that the aim is to ensure access to primary healthcare and shape people’s habits. “The goal is to offer an alternative to emergency departments on weekends. Most people going to Tallinn’s ERs fall into the green and blue triage categories, meaning their condition is not urgent and they could be treated by primary healthcare instead. This service will help ease the burden on ERs so they can focus on critical patients while encouraging people to turn to family doctors first,” explained Kase, adding that people should continue to contact their own family doctor as a first step.

Appointments will be available on weekends and public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00 by prior registration. Patients can book either through the national digital registry using the keyword “valveperearstiteenus” or by calling 6 700 474. New appointment slots open the evening before at 18:00. The service will be provided at the Confido Health Centre, Veerenni 53A, and is free of charge for all patients regardless of residence or health insurance.

“We want to help change the habit of going to the emergency department with every health concern by offering more suitable and patient-centered primary care for milder health issues. Our goal is to make healthcare more accessible for Tallinn residents while reducing ER workload so every patient receives care at the right time,” said Karita Košeleva, Member of the Management Board of OÜ Ennetuskliinik and Head of Confido Primary Care Clinic.

The agreement currently provides the service until the end of 2026, with a total cost of just under 275,000 euros. A procurement process was carried out, receiving one bid.

The service will also be available for children, and the on-call doctor service at Tallinn Children’s Hospital’s emergency department will continue in parallel.