Health Care, Disease Control, Crime and Safety in Estonia

The beginning of the 20th century marks Estonia’s established foundation for the development of its health care system which is relevant in meeting the needs of its people. Health services are provided to the local levels of the state and outpatient care is provided by private physicians. Estonia has different kinds of hospitals namely: state-owned hospitals, municipal and private hospitals, specialized care institutes, mother and child clinics, and sanatoriums. To better care for the welfare of Estonians, professional societies where members are mostly physicians were founded and funded.

The government conducted central planning to fund health care programs and Estonian citizens were provided free access to health services through the Semashenko system. It was during this time as well that health care reforms were planned wherein county doctors were appointed and given the responsibility to administer health care programs. Through the Health Insurance Law, a compulsory system of health insurance for all employees was established. Farmers, students, dependants, full-time students, pregnant women, pensioners, and other defined groups were to benefit from the Law. They based the entitlement of the health benefits and care on residence not on citizenship.

Before the Ministries of Health, Social Welfare and Labor were two separate government agencies but in 1993, the two merged and came into what is now known the Ministry of Social Affairs. Its main responsibility is to provide health and social services to Estonians. The organizational structure of health and social service system is organized and controlled by municipality and town councils with the leadership of municipal physician.