Where to Turn if you Become Ill or are Injured
Medical services may be organised differently in Sweden than in your home country. To be clear about where you should turn if you should become ill or are injured, please take note of the information on this page.
District Medical Centers
The district medical center is where you go to if you need to see a doctor. The medical centers for the main student housing areas are situated in Ålidhem and in Mariehem. You always need to call in advance and book an appointment.
Mariehem Vårdcentral, Norra Området:
Address: Morkullevägen 9.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
Reception: 46 90-785 44 44 Emergency number after hours: 46 90-785 83 12
E-Mail: mariehem.vardcentral.us@vll.se
Ålidhem Vårdcentral:
Address: Tvistevägen 2.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
Booking: Calling weekdays 8am - 3pm 46 90-785 44 58
Emergency number after hours 46 90-785 81 20
E-Mail: alidhem.vardcentral@vll.se
Medical Advice Line
If you need medical advice there is a help line you can call: 1177. For information in English press 5. Eventually you will get to talk to an actual person, and he or she will be able to speak with you in English. You have to pay the regular phone tariff for the call, but the advice is free.
The primary care emergency service in Umeå
The primary care emergence service is located at Ålidhem's health care centre. It is therefore important that you call 1177 for health care advice if you fall ill during the night or weekend so that you can be advised as to the appropriate care service. When you call 1177 you will speak to a nurse who will assess your medical condition. You will be given self care advice or be recommended to go to
• Your health care centre the following day
• The primary care emergency service at Ålidhem
• The emergency clinic
Student Health Service
While you’re a student at Umeå University you can contact the Student Health Service on campus if you have any questions relating to your mental or physical health, your social situation or your study situation. All consultations are free of charge, and the personnel main confidentiality.
Student Health Service has focus on health promotion and prevention work, and is a complement to the Swedish Health Care system (not intended to replace the ordinary medical service). Student Health Service for example offers: counselling, advice on alcohol consumption, advice on contraception, free testing for HIV, advice for medical care and application for housing priority. You’ll find Aurora, the light and quiet room for rest and recovery, at Student Health Service.
You can contact the Student Health Service by a visit or by filling in an application form on the website. Opening hours to the nurse in the reception are: Monday, Tuesday and Friday 09.30-11.30 and Wednesday 12.30-14.30
Student Health Service is located in the Administration building, in the corridor below the International Office. If you have trouble getting in touch with the regular health care providers or if you are unsure where to turn you can contact the Student Health Service for help.
Emergency Room
In case of a medical emergency, dial 112 and ask for an ambulance. You can also get a doctor, nurse or dentist on-call at this number. You can also go to the emergency room (Akutmottagningen) at the University Hospital (Universitetssjukhuset) just off campus. The emergency room is situated to the right of the main entrance, below the helicopter pad.
Cost of care/Different categories
Everyone who seeks medical care in Sweden, whether they be a Swedish national or foreigner, have to pay a minimum fee of 300 SEK per visit. Dental care has a separate tariff and is considerably more expensive.
As an international student you are entitled to healthcare under the same conditions as Swedish citizens provided that you fulfill one or more of the following:
- You are a citizen of the EU/EEA and can present a valid European health insurance card (EU-card), an E111 or E128 form (issued in your home country).
- You are nationally registered in Sweden.
- You are a citizen of a non-EU/EES country that has an agreement with Sweden regarding healthcare for its citizens while in Sweden.
If you do not fulfill at least one of the above-mentioned criteria, you need to arrange for private medical insurance during your studies at Umeå University. If not, any medical care that you seek in Sweden may be very expensive.
To become nationally registered in Sweden you must have a residence permit for at least one year and register with the Population Register at the Swedish Tax Authority. They will issue you a personal identification number and you are then nationally registered.
Note: Being nationally registered in Sweden does not give you the right to comprehensive dental care.
Dental Care
There are several public and private dentistry clinics in Umeå. The closest one to campus is situated in the University Hospital in connection with the Dentistry School. If you agree to receive treatment from a supervised dentistry student, you can get cheaper treatment. You can find other dentistry clinics by going to www.hitta.se and by typing "Tandläkare" in the "Vad söker du?" feild and "Umeå" in the "Var" field.
Foreign students residing or staying in Sweden temporarily generally do not have the right to subsidised dental care in Sweden, regardless of whether the person is registered as residing in Sweden or not (have a Swedish personal ID number).
If you have any questions concerning dental care please get in touch with "Försäkringskassan" through their customer centre at 0771-524 524.
Pharmacy
In Sweden, you have to go to the pharmacy to obtain all prescriptions and most non-prescription medication. Sweden is quite restrictive when it comes to medicinal drugs, which means that you will need a prescription to buy much of the medication that you may be able to buy without a prescription in other countries. Some non prescription medications can be bought in food stores as well.
Most District Medical Centers (hälsocentraler) have a pharmacy. There is also a pharmacy at the University Hospital, at Ålidhem Centrum and at Renmarkstorget in the center of Umeå. Most pharmacies are only open during weekdays and regular business hours. If you need to visit a pharmacy during the weekend, the university hospital pharmacy is your best bet.
