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Good health is an important part of life. In this chapter you will find information about healthcare and preventive services available in Åland, from childhood to old age. You will also learn where to turn in case of illness, accidents, or other emergencies.
The Åland Health Service (ÅHS) is responsible for all public health care in Åland, from maternity and child health care to various forms of specialized health care and end-of-life care.
The comprehensive service offered by ÅHS to Ålanders and visitors is characterized by a people-oriented atmosphere, where care and quality are in focus. Collaborations with hospitals in Helsinki, Turku and Uppsala give patients and staff access to top Nordic expertise.
The activities of ÅHS are mainly concentrated in Mariehamn, read more on Ahs.ax.
Read more about health care in Åland on Alandliving.ax (in Swedish).
Call the emergency number 112 in life-threatening situations – such as serious accidents, heavy bleeding, severe chest pain, sudden breathing difficulties, unconsciousness, signs of paralysis or seizures – or go directly to the emergency department at ÅHS (Ålands centralsjukhus) in Mariehamn.
The health information service at ÅHS is available every day, tel. +358 18 535 117.
Your call will be placed in a queue and ÅHS will answer as soon as possible.
When should I call the medical helpline 018 535 117?
What happens when you call?
A nurse at the medical helpline will assess your symptoms and provide advice. If needed, you may be given an appointment at the emergency care clinic or referred to another service.
Contact your nearest health centre (hälsocentral) in Mariehamn or Godby for illnesses and problems that are not acute or life-threatening. If you live in the archipelago, contact the health centre in your municipality.
How to seek care at ÅHS.
Pregnancy and childbirth care in Åland is known for being safe, personal and close to home. Expecting parents receive care through mödrarådgivningen (maternity clinic), which is part of Ålands hälso- och sjukvård (ÅHS). Midwives provide regular check-ups, support, and guidance throughout the pregnancy.
You will give birth at Ålands centralsjukhus (the central hospital in Mariehamn). The hospital has a modern maternity ward and a dedicated team of midwives and doctors. Because of the small size of the unit, you often meet the same caregivers before, during and after the birth – something many families appreciate.
After the baby is born, most parents stay a couple of days at the hospital, allowing time to rest, recover and receive support with breastfeeding and newborn care. Follow-up care continues at the child health clinic (barnrådgivningen).
For more advanced care or special situations, ÅHS cooperates with the university hospitals in Åbo (Finland) and Uppsala (Sweden). Transport by helicopter is arranged when needed.
Read more about Maternity care and childbirth at Ahs.ax.
ÅHS provides all parents with support and encouragement during their child’s first years. All children who have not yet started school can come here.
Read more about the helpline for children’s issues at Ahs.ax.
Municipalities are responsible for nursing homes and assisted living facilities for the elderly. Contact your home municipality for more information and the types of accommodation available.
Public dental care is offered to children and young people up to the age of 28 and to patient groups that are prioritized for medical and social reasons.
ÅHS dental care is available in Mariehamn and Godby.
Find private dental practices in Åland (in Swedish).
If you need help with contraception or sexual health, you can contact the contraception clinic at ÅHS. There are also private options.
Contact private health care services (in Swedish).
There is support and care available for those who feel mentally unwell. A person in need of this kind of help should start by contacting the mental health services at ÅHS. Counselling and treatment services and support sessions are available.
Mental health at ÅHS.
There are three private healthcare providers in Åland:
Cityläkarna
Medimar
Ålandskliniken
FPA pays part of the cost of private medical care (including dental care). Many employers also offer occupational health care to their employees.
There are four pharmacies in Åland. At the pharmacy, you can buy medication as well as skin care, hygiene products, vitamins and first aid equipment. Many medicines are available only by prescription from a doctor.
All prescriptions are electronic. To collect your medicine, you need to bring your Kela card or another form of identification. If someone else needs to collect a medicine for you, that person must have a power of attorney and be able to prove their identity with their own identity card, passport or driving license.
The authorization must be made digitally via Suomi.fi.
If you need a prescription for a medicine or if you need to renew a prescription, the easiest way is to contact the health centre.
If you have a Finnish social security number, you can check you’re the status of your prescriptions and medicines at Kanta.fi.
If you have not visited a doctor in Åland before and have a long-term illness, you should bring your prescriptions or an updated list of medicines with you when you visit a doctor.
Första Apoteket in Mariehamn and Kumlinge.
Central-Apoteket in Mariehamn.
Jomala Apotek in Maxinge.
Godby Apotek in Finström.
Kommunernas socialtjänst k.f. (KST) is responsible for social welfare in Åland. Contact KST if you need help with income support, maternity allowance, disability services or substance abuse treatment.
KST also includes child protection, special care and Fältarna, which works preventively with young people aged 13–17.
Read more about social care in Åland.
Funktionsrätt Åland is an umbrella organization that works for people with disabilities. The association includes 11 patient and family associations and the HandiCampen office in Mariehamn.
Funktionsrätt Åland has also produced a social protection guide that highlights the rights of those who are ill or have a disability.
Read more about Funktionsrätt Åland.
Folkhälsan is a national non-profit organisation that promotes health and well-being for people of all ages. In Åland, it offers baby swimming, family cafés, youth activities, fitness classes, senior support, and more.
The Allaktivitetshuset in Mariehamn is the main meeting place, with a café and spaces for events and group activities.
Learn more at Folkhälsan Åland (in Swedish).
Search the phone book at Aland.com (in Swedish).
Keep this in mind when you call 112:
Call 112 only in emergencies.
In a larger crisis, many people want information, but please do not call 112 to ask what is happening regarding a troubling situation you have learned about. Instead, wait for the authorities to inform you on how to proceed.
The authorities’ crisis messages can be found at www.kris.ax.
In Finland and in Åland, the authorities will test the official alert message transmission system on National Emergency Number Day, February 11, at 11:20 am. During the test, a test message will be broadcast on radio and television and will be available on the 112 text TV page. Information about the test will also be published on www.kris.ax.
Read also the brochure “If the crisis comes” from the Government of Åland (in Swedish).
See also the regional alarm centre at www.alarmcentralen.ax (in Swedish).
When authorities want to warn the public of an imminent danger, they can use the alarm signal, also known as “Hesa Fredrik”. This signal is tested at 12 (noon) on the first day of each month*.
Here is what the different signals sound like:
The municipalities in Åland maintain fire and rescue services, of which voluntary fire brigade activities are important and form a large part.
Mariehamn is staffed by the Mariehamn Rescue Department, which also handles patient transportation in Åland on the basis of an agreement with Åland’s health service.
Regional Alarm Centre (in Swedish).
The Åland Police Authority is subordinate to the Government of Åland and has the whole of Åland as its area of operation.
The police station is located at Strandgatan 27 in Mariehamn.
The police switchboard is open during the day on weekdays, tel. +358 18 527 100.
In an emergency, always call 112.
Ålands Sjöräddningssällskap r.f. is a non-profit organization, which conducts sea rescue in the waters around Åland.
Daytime number (24h) +358 18 19475.
General emergency number 112
ÅHS switchboard/ information: +358 18 5355
Medical information +358 18 535 117
Healthcare Center +358 18 538 500
Alarm centre hotline number +358 18 19000
Police switchboard, daytime, weekdays +358 18 527 100
Poison Information Centre 0800147111
Short-term dentist +358 18 538524
Veterinarian on call +358 18 21000
Sea rescue 029 41 000
Car recovery +358 457 313 5747, +358 18 31747
If you are under 18, you can call the Bris helpline to talk to a counsellor about what you are thinking about or what you need help with.
Call Bris: +358 18 25520 (local call charge).
You can call Bris’s adult helpline for issues concerning children if you are worried and need to talk to someone about your own or someone else’s child up to the age of 18.
Monday–Friday 10 am–1pm
Call the Bris adult helpline: +46 77 150 5050
The helpline phones are open to residents of Åland 24 hours a day and offer guidance to Åland authorities on issues related to domestic or sexual violence.
Call the Women’s helpline: +358 18 25 500
Read more about the Women’s helpline at regeringen.ax.
Call the Men´s helpline +358 18 25504
Call the Helpline for transpersons +358 18 25509
Nollinjen is a national, toll-free helpline for anyone who has been subjected to violence or threats of violence in close relationships. Relatives of victims of violence or professionals and authorities who need support for client work can also call the Zero Line.
Call the Zero Line: +358 80 005 005
Read more about the zero line.
Tallbacken can be contacted around the clock in matters relating to domestic violence. The shelter is available for women and men who are victims of domestic violence.
Call Tallbacken: +358 18 532842 or +358 457 378 0018
Alternativ till våld, meaning alternatives to violence, offers support and treatment to men with violence and aggression problems in their close relationships, through conversations/treatment in groups or individually. Alternativ till våld has a duty of confidentiality and the service is free of charge.
Read more about Alternativ till våld at regeringen.ax.
Victim Support service points provide personal support and advice to victims, their families and witnesses in criminal cases, as well as the possibility to request a support person.
Read more about Victim Support Finland.
The online service is intended for women with a migrant background who have experienced violence or threats of violence. It is easy and safe to use the services.
The online services are confidential. Questions can be asked and discussed anonymously.
Call Crisis Centre Monika’s helpline: 0800 05058 There is also a chat function.
Crisis centre Monika
The Poisons Information Centre answers questions by phone about the prevention and treatment of sudden poisoning in humans.
Call the Poison Information Centre: 0800 147 111 or 09 471 977 (calls are free of charge).
Find out more about the Poison Information Centre.
At the Addiction Clinic you can seek support for your use of or addiction to alcohol, drugs, medicines or gambling.
In Mariehamn there is an addiction clinic at the Municipal Social Services (KST) that provides services for the whole of Åland.
Call the Addiction Clinic: +358 18 532 851
Read more about the addiction clinic at KST.
