HOW AND WHERE TO BUY MEDICINES IN FINLAND

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Traveling to Finland for shopping has long become commonplace for many Russians. Some people come here to buy clothes and household appliances, others prefer to buy food in local stores, while others are interested in medicines. It is especially important for the latter to know about the rules and regulations of pharmacies in Finland and medicines: which drugs are on sale, which ones will need a prescription, and most importantly, how to place an order in a Finnish pharmacy.

Finnish pharmacies at a glance

Considering the proximity of the territories, it is quite understandable that an increasing number of pharmaceutical points of sale in Finland are being reoriented towards the Russian buyer. In many border towns, services in them have long been conducted in Russian. For example, in pharmacies in Imatra, Lappeenranta and even Helsinki you will be served by a Russian-speaking pharmacist.

In some pharmacies tax-free registration is possible. But this applies mainly to dietary supplements, vitamins and medical cosmetics.

Each pharmaceutical institution is trying to develop bonus and discount programs for its customers. True, they are designed mainly for citizens of the country or residents with a residence permit status.

The working hours of pharmacies can be called standard:

weekdays: 9.00-18.00;
Saturday: 9.00-14.00;
Sunday is a day off.

Many pharmacies located in the border area are open seven days a week. In large cities, you can find round-the-clock institutions, and in small cities they are often located in regular stores.

Unlike Russians, who buy drugs for future use, Finns take only what they need in a particular situation. In addition, it is not customary here to prescribe your own treatment yourself.

Local residents first go to a doctor who conducts an examination, prescribes tests, diagnoses, and only then prescribes medications.

Finnish pharmacies dispense prescription and over-the-counter medications. On the open market are medicines for coughs and runny nose, balms and ointments for bruises, medicines for allergies and fever. The cost of medicines is on average lower than in other Scandinavian countries, but higher than in most Western European countries. To purchase prescription drugs, you must make an appointment with your local doctor who will give you the correct prescription.

Where to buy medicines

There are just over 800 pharmacies in the country. The number of such outlets is strictly controlled by the state. The decision on how many pharmaceutical institutions will be located in each locality is made by the Medicines Department. The leading network in Finland is the “Universal Pharmacy”, which includes:

19 pharmacies in Finnish territory;
7 branches in Estonia;
9 branches in the Russian Federation.

In remote regions of the country, local residents buy medicines at the post office, but only by prior order.

All drugs (both prescription and over-the-counter) can only be bought at the pharmacy. Anything that is sold without a prescription cannot be bought in Finnish supermarkets.

According to local pharmacists, the sale of medicines outside specialized institutions is unjustified and undermines the reputation of pharmacies. This position is also supported at the state level.

Ordering medicines via the Internet

One of the ways to buy drugs is through online ordering. Its advantage is the presence of representative offices of many pharmacy chains in Russia and Russian-language versions of Internet resources. To order the necessary medicines, you should go to the official website of the company, put the goods in the basket and select the payment and delivery option. Let's name the most popular portals:

www.apteka.fi - a site designed specifically for Russian buyers. The pharmacy itself is located in the Finnish capital. There is no representative office in the Russian Federation. All goods are shipped directly from Finland. When ordering products, you need to be prepared for the fact that there are no descriptions for drugs in Russian;
www.yliopistonapteekki.fi is one of the largest online pharmacies in the country. To place an order, you need to be fluent in Finnish, since the site does not even have an English version;
www.aptekashop.fi is another platform aimed at Russians. Belongs to the online store of the Finnish company Flying Lynx Oy. The pharmacy is located in the city of Kouvola;
www.ssl.verkkoapteekki.fi is also suitable only for those who are fluent in Finnish. Offers a wide range of dietary supplements, vitamins and prophylactic agents.

Where to buy medicines in Finnish cities

Pharmaceutical tourism has long ceased to be a novelty for Russians. Over time, even a whole list of the most popular pharmacies was formed, where our compatriots most often turn.

For example, in Lappeenranta, located right on the Russian-Finnish border, tourists may be interested in the following pharmacies:

Lappeenrannan I Apteekki - located in the Prisma supermarket at Puhakankatu 9-11. It works seven days a week from 8.00 to 22.00, on Saturday until 18.00, on Sunday from 11.00 to 18.00;
Yliopiston Apteekki (University Pharmacy). Address: Valtakatu, 37;
Lappeenrannan Uusi Apteekki - st. Kaakkoiskaari, 22;
Life Pharmacy - located on Kauppakatu Street, 39;
Lappeenrannan Keskusapteekki - st. Brahenkatu, 3.

Another popular city among tourists is Imatra. It is also located close to the border, small in size, with a sparse population. Here, medicines are most often bought in three places:

Vuoksenniska - st. Tietäjänkatu, 2;
Imatrankoski - st. Helsingintie, 9;
Vuoksenniska - Vuoksenniskantie, 64.

The advantage of the Finnish capital is the large concentration of national pharmaceutical chains and individual pharmacies, where Russian tourists can easily buy the drugs they need.

In particular, in Helsinki, it is recommended to shop at the following outlets:

Yliopiston Apteekki is a 24-hour pharmacy located at 96 Mannerheimintie Street;
Yliopiston Apteekki - university pharmacy at ul. Mannerheimintie 5;
Apteekki Express - st. Elielinaukio, 3;
Töölön - st. Kampinkuja, 2;
Vantaanportin apteekki - located in the Jumbo shopping center near Vantaa airport. Address: st. Vantaanportinkatu 3;
Pharmacy Keskusta - st. Jaakonkatu, 3

The Joensuu Uusi Apteekki pharmacy, located at ul. Siltakatu 10.

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Prescription drugs

There are about 9,000 registered medicines in Finland. Nearly half of these are produced by local pharmaceutical companies.

The number of pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country reaches 65. The largest are Orion, Verman, Santen.

The production of medicines is strictly controlled by the National Pharmacovigilance Center. Two to three times a year, the regulator conducts inspections at all manufacturing enterprises in the country working in this industry, and publishes reports.

It should be noted that the Finns are very careful about their health and do not wait for the disease to knock them down. That is why almost 75% of the drugs presented in local pharmacies are aimed at improving health, and not at restoring it.

The main assortment of Finnish pharmacies is represented by medicines and related products. A wider selection is offered by university pharmacies. You can find preventive and cosmetic products in them. But herbal medicines in the country are considered to be ineffective, so there is no demand for them, as, in fact, there is no choice.

Speaking about what medicines can be bought without a prescription, you should name:

drugs for allergies (antihistamines, ointments and skin creams, nasal sprays, hormonal drugs, eye drops);
pregnancy tests, blood pressure monitors;
insect repellent;
antiseptics - plasters, dressings, wound care creams;
preparations for hair and scalp care;
lice remedies;
ointments for herpes, fungal infections, dermatitis;
intimate hygiene products;
sunscreens;
antipyretic, drops from the common cold, drugs for sore throat and cough;
topical ointments for injuries, supporting bandages;
sports nutrition, nutritional supplements;
of sleeping pills, you can buy only valerian tincture;
activated charcoal, medicines for heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, motion sickness;
vitamins.

All other drugs are dispensed only as directed by a doctor.

Types of recipes

Until a few years ago, there were two types of prescriptions for medicines in Finland:

paper;
electronic.

The latter are now widely used, replacing paper forms: with the help of a personal card, any doctor can enter the Unified Prescription System and prescribe medications that a patient needs.

To get drugs at the pharmacy, you must have a doctor's certificate or insurance card.

The pharmacist will log in and see everything on the buyer's assignment sheet. Each resident of the country can track information via the Internet in his personal account.

This approach, according to local experts, is more rational, since it avoids document fraud. Moreover, it can neither be stolen nor lost.

The instruction on the treatment plan is stored in the Unified System and allows other doctors to control which medications the patient is taking at a given time in order to correctly select the drugs for him.

How much do medicines cost in Finland

In the Finnish state, there is a whole list of drugs, the cost of which is partially compensated by the state. This list is compiled and approved by the Pricing Board. The same department also fixes the maximum allowable price for wholesale purchases. The amount of compensation reaches 60-100%.

How much a customer can return on each purchase depends on the treatment regimen. If it is a one-time dose or a short course, the patient pays for the cost of the medication himself. With an average course duration, the state compensates for about 50% of all costs. If a long-term or lifelong drug intake is required, then the amount of reimbursement increases to 75-90%.

The retail price is calculated based on special formulas. VAT on medicines is 8%.

In 2002, the country adopted a regulatory document that allows pharmacists to offer customers so-called generics - cheaper analogues of original expensive drugs. However, the law left the right to agree to such a replacement or refuse it to the client.

Based on the prescription, the pharmacist determines the amount to be paid, taking into account the client's insurance policy.

Foreign citizens buy drugs at full cost.

For comparison, the cost of some drugs in different countries in euros is shown in the table:

Name of product	Finland	Spain	Germany	Italy
Vitamins Bion 3	18,29	9,60	16,79	14,33
Optive Plus (eye drops)	18,60	10,02	15,08	13,24
Loratadin (allergy medication)	4,50	1,6	1,5	2,35
Laxans-ratiopharm (laxative)	5,80	4,23	2,72	4,86
Ambroxol (for colds)	4,90	2,45	1,98	4,50

Time and cost of drug delivery to Russia

When ordering goods in an online pharmacy, you should clarify whether prices are indicated with or without VAT. Usually this information is already reflected in the "basket" at checkout.

The average delivery time to Moscow or St. Petersburg takes 4-6 days (working days). In other regions of the Russian Federation, the parcel will take longer - up to two weeks.

You can pay for postage with delivery to Russia on the pharmacy website. This can be done using a Visa or MasterCard without additional fees.

When cash on delivery is due, the drug delivery fee may be € 4.90, provided that the carrier is Matkahuolto or Itella Post. The amount of such a shipment without paying for the medicines themselves can cost on average 19 euros, when ordering express delivery services, the payment will increase to 25 euros.

If you decide to pick up the parcel in Finland, then you will have to pay for the delivery:

at the pick-up points of Matkahuolto - 4.50 euros;
for postal services in Finland - 4.90 euros.

If the order exceeds a certain amount (set individually by each pharmacy), then delivery within Finland may be free.

Some tips on how to buy medicines in Finland

The first thing that complicates the search for medicines is ignorance of the peculiarities of the country of visit. Use the following tips:

to buy drugs that are not on the OTC list, you will definitely need a prescription. You need to take it from your doctor before traveling. Just in case, you need to capture the medical history, the results of recent tests and studies;
it may happen that you cannot find the drug you are looking for in Finland. In this case, it is necessary to prescribe its active substance and consult with your doctor whether it is possible to replace the medicine that you need with an analogue;
Finns do not trust folk methods and herbal infusions, so be prepared for the fact that even an ointment for cuts and bruises will be offered with an antibiotic;
if you do not speak either English or Finnish, look for pharmacies with Russian-speaking pharmacists. They are in the cities of Lappeenranta, Imatra, Kotka, Helsinki;
in Finland, it is customary to educate citizens to take medication consciously, therefore, together with the drug, you will also receive oral instructions regarding its intake, compatibility with other drugs and dosage;
thanks to a special program in a Finnish pharmacy, it is possible to check whether the medicine you are buying can be taken with other medicines.

What cannot be brought into the country

When collecting a first-aid kit on the road, it must be borne in mind that many medicines that are freely available in Russia may be prohibited from being imported into Finland. These most often include:

antispasmodics;
pain relievers;
drugs containing barbiturates.

Particular attention is paid to prescription drugs and those that contain drugs.

If you are bringing in prescription drugs, take your doctor's prescription and prescription with you, having previously translated them into Finnish or Swedish and be sure to keep the original packaging.

The number of drugs should be calculated on average for 3 months, narcotic drugs - for no more than 14 days.

We bring to your attention a list of medicines prohibited for import into Finnish territory:

analgin - in Europe it is believed that it negatively affects the human brain;
"No-shpa" - prohibited for use by pregnant women;
validol - considered a common mint tincture;
corvalol and valocordin are regarded as psychotropic drugs due to the content of barbiturates;
"Biseptol" - prohibited due to the detrimental effect on the liver;
"Phenazepam" - refers to tranquilizers;
Tamiflu is banned in Finland.

What most often interests Russian tourists

Upon arrival in Finland, our compatriots inevitably have many questions. Let's try to answer the main ones:

Is it possible to buy pills in Finland with a prescription issued in Russia? One thing is indisputable: you must have the recipe with you. As for the acquisition of medicines on it, such an opportunity is officially not allowed.

But in many pharmacies, Russian-speaking pharmacists can help to reissue a document according to the Finnish model for little money. However, in recent years, inspections by regulatory authorities to identify such services have become more frequent. Therefore, it is becoming more and more difficult to buy a medicine according to a Russian prescription in Finland. In order not to risk it, it is best to make an appointment with a doctor who will write an appointment in Finnish.