Finland made PrEP medication free via the public health system in 2021 — one of the later but genuinely good implementations in Northern Europe. The catch: the public route can be slow, with waiting times of weeks to months in some areas. Here's how to navigate both routes.
The Short Version
- Free PrEP is available via the public health route (Kela-reimbursed)
- Requires a referral to an infektiologipoliklinikka (infectious disease outpatient clinic)
- Waiting times can be long — especially in Helsinki
- Private route is faster but costs €60–100/month for medication plus consultation fees
- Hivpoint can advise on which route is fastest in your area
Route A: Public (Free)
Step 1: Contact Your Terveysasema or Hivpoint
Your starting point is your local terveysasema (health station) or Hivpoint. Either can initiate the PrEP referral process.
Via terveysasema: Book a doctor's appointment and ask for a referral to the sukupuolitautien poliklinikka or infektiologipoliklinikka for PrEP assessment. Say:
"Haluaisin aloittaa PrEP-lääkityksen. Tarvitsen lähetteen." ("I would like to start PrEP medication. I need a referral.")
Via Hivpoint: hivpoint.fi staff are experienced with PrEP navigation and can advise on the fastest public route in your city.
Step 2: Infectious Disease Outpatient Clinic
The infektiologipoliklinikka (or sukupuolitautien poliklinikka in Helsinki) is where PrEP is assessed and prescribed in the public system. You'll need:
- HIV negative test (done at the clinic)
- Baseline STI screen (syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, hepatitis B/C)
- Kidney function test (creatinine)
- Discussion of daily vs event-based dosing
Helsinki: Sukupuolitautien poliklinikka, Meilahti (Haartmaninkatu 4) Tampere: Tays (Tampere University Hospital), Infectious Disease Department Oulu: OYS (Oulu University Hospital), Infectious Disease Department Turku: Tyks (Turku University Hospital), Infectious Disease Department
Step 3: Prescription and Monitoring
Once prescribed, the medication is reimbursed to €0 by Kela (the Finnish Social Insurance Institution). Generic TDF/FTC is prescribed.
You must attend for quarterly monitoring: HIV test, STI screen, and kidney function. These appointments are also covered by the public system.
Route B: Private (Faster, Paid)
Private clinics (Mehiläinen, Terveystalo) can prescribe PrEP without the public referral wait. However:
- Private prescription for PrEP medication is not Kela-reimbursed — you pay approximately €60–100/month for the medication
- Consultation costs: approximately €80–150 per visit
- Labs: approximately €80–120 per quarterly panel
Total private route cost: approximately €80–150/month all-in for the first year.
When private is worth it: If the public waiting time exceeds 3–4 months and you're at elevated risk, the private route bridges the gap. Once you have an established prescription, some people transfer to the public route for ongoing monitoring.
Kela and PrEP
Kela (Kansaneläkelaitos — Social Insurance Institution of Finland) reimburses prescription medications, including PrEP, when prescribed within the public health system (sairaala or terveyskeskus prescription). Kela reimbursement does not apply to private clinic prescriptions.
Your Kela card (or its digital equivalent in the Kanta patient data system) is your health insurance credential.