Estonia's official language is Estonian (Eesti), but in Narva and Ida-Virumaa county, Russian is the dominant everyday language. Most healthcare professionals in Tallinn speak English. This guide covers essential terms in both Estonian and Russian where relevant.
The Health System
| Purpose | Estonian Term | Russian Term |
|---|---|---|
| Estonian Health Insurance Fund | Haigekassa | Больничная касса |
| Digital health record | Digilugu | Цифровая история болезни |
| Infectious disease doctor | Infektsionist | Инфекционист |
| Infection clinic | Nakkuskliinik | Инфекционная клиника |
| GP / family doctor centre | Perearstikeskus | Семейная врачебная |
| Doctor | Arst | Врач |
| Pharmacy | Apteek | Аптека |
| Emergency room | EMO | Скорая помощь |
| Room / consulting room | Kabinet | Кабинет |
| Anonymous testing | Anonüümne testimine | Анонимное тестирование |
Sexual Health and Testing
| Purpose | Estonian Term | Russian Term |
|---|---|---|
| HIV test | HIV-test | Тест на ВИЧ |
| STI test | STI test | Тест на ИППП |
| Blood | Veri | Кровь |
| Blood test | Vereproov | Анализ крови |
| Swab | Abstricht | Мазок |
| Throat swab | Kurgu proov | Мазок из горла |
| Rectal swab | Pärasoole proov | Мазок из прямой кишки |
| Urethral swab | Kusiti proov | Мазок из уретры |
| Results | Tulemused | Результаты |
| Gonorrhoea | Gonorröa | Гонорея |
| Chlamydia | Klamüüdia | Хламидиоз |
| Syphilis | Süüfilis | Сифилис |
| Hepatitis | Hepatiit | Гепатит |
| PrEP | PrEP | ДКП (ДоКонтактная Профилактика) |
| PEP | PEP | ПКП (ПостКонтактная Профилактика) |
| Condom | Kondoom | Презерватив |
The Digilugu System
Estonia's digital health record — Digilugu — is unique in Europe for its comprehensiveness. All your test results, prescriptions, and diagnoses are stored there.
- Access via digilugu.ee using an ID card or Mobile-ID
- Prescriptions appear digitally — just show your ID at any pharmacy
- You can grant access to any Estonian doctor from any clinic
- Your vaccination history is there too
Key Phrases — Estonian
| Purpose | Estonian Term |
|---|---|
| Book appointment with infectious disease doctor | Soovin broneerida aja infektsionisti juurde. |
| STI test — throat, rectal, and urethral swabs | Soovin testida suguhaiguste suhtes — kurgu, pärasoole ja kusiti proovid. |
| Anonymous HIV test | Kas on võimalik teha anonüümne HIV test? |
| I'm on PrEP — need my monitoring appointment | Olen PrEP-il. Vajan kontrollaega. |
| I want to start PrEP | Soovin alustada PrEP-i. Olen mees, kellel on seks meestega. |
| HIV exposure — I need PEP — [X] hours ago | Mul oli riskantne seksuaalvahekord ja ma vajan PEP-i. See oli [X] tundi tagasi. |
| I have an EHIC card | Mul on Euroopa ravikindlustuskaart (EHIC). |
| I need help | Ma vajan abi! |
| Call an ambulance | Kutsuge kiirabi! |
Key Phrases — Russian (for Narva / Ida-Virumaa)
| Purpose | Phonetic | Russian Term |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment with infectious disease doctor | Ya khochu zapisat'sya k infektsionistoo | Я хочу записаться к инфекционисту. |
| Three-site testing — throat, rectal, urethral | Pozhaluysta, testirovaniye iz trekh tochek — iz gorla, pryamoy kishki i uretry | Пожалуйста, тестирование из трёх точек — из горла, прямой кишки и уретры. |
| Anonymous HIV test | Ya khochoo anonimniy test na VICH | Я хочу анонимный тест на ВИЧ. |
| I'm on PrEP — need my monitoring | Ya prinimayoo PrEP. Mnye noozhna kontrolnaya konsultatsiya. | Я принимаю ДКП. Мне нужна контрольная консультация. |
| I want to start PrEP | Ya khochoo nachat' DKP / PrEP | Я хочу начать ДКП (PrEP). |
| HIV exposure — I need PEP — [X] hours ago | Oo menya byl riskovanniy polovoy kontakt, mnye noozhna PKP. Eto bylo [X] chasov nazad. | У меня был рискованный половой контакт, мне нужна ПКП. Это было [X] часов назад. |
| I have an EHIC card | Oo menya yest' yevropeyskaya karta meditsinskogo strakhovaniya | У меня есть европейская карта медицинского страхования. |
| I need help | Mnye noozhna pomoshch'! | Мне нужна помощь! |
| Call an ambulance | Vyzovite skoruyu pomoshch'! | Вызовите скорую помощь! |
Emergency Numbers
| Service | Contact |
|---|---|
| Emergency (all) | 112 |
| Police | 110 |
| Mental health crisis line | 116 (free, 24/7) |
| Nakkuskliinik Tallinn | +372 651 2000 |
| Linda Kliinik Narva | +372 35 74 455 |
| Haigekassa info | +372 669 6630 |