The number of hospital patients is gradually decreasing and the number of day patients is increasing
02 OCTOBER 2020
In 2019, 192,400 adults (15 and older) and 26,674 children (0–14 y) received hospital treatment. The number of treated adults in inpatient care decreased by 0.8% compared to 2018, but the number of children increased by 0.9%, while the number of day care patients increased in both age groups, according to data published by the National Institute for Health Development.
19,140 patients received long-term nursing care, a decrease of 3.7%. There are practically no children among nursing care patients.
The average length of stay in inpatient care was 8.3, and care in beds of the specialities for children were 3.5 days. One of those in need of longer treatment were patients with a mental and behavioural disorders who stayed in hospital for an average of 21 days. Patients of nursing care spent an average of 26.5 days in hospital.
13% of those requiring hospitalization were children (0–14 y) and 42% of patients were 65 years of age or older. The age distribution of patients is similar to the last few years. In the ten-year comparison, the share of people aged 65 and older has increased, both due to the occurrence of diseases requiring hospital treatment related to the aging population and the improvement of treatment options.
Last year, 83,677 adults and 8,374 children (0–14 y) were in day care. The number of day care cases has been growing steadily over the years, the number of both adults and children was also higher last year than year before (+3.5% and +0.6%, respectively).
Statistics about hospital and day care beds and hospital and day care patients in 2019 is published in Health Statistics and Health Research Database. Also, data about the hospitals that belong to the Hospital Network Development Plan (tables HH08, RV701, RV711) are available.
Outpatient and home visits 2019
30 SEPTEMBER 2020
The number of physicians' and nurses' outpatient visits for 2019 is published in Health Statistics and Health Research Database.
The total number of physicians’ and nursing personnel outpatient and home visits total decreased by 2.9% and 3.3% respectively compared to 2018.
Over 9.8 million physicians’ and nursing personnel outpatient and home visits were registered in 2019. Compared to previous year, the number of visits decreased by 3%, in absolute numbers it is nearly 299,000 visits less.
7.2 million physicians’ outpatient visits were registered, which are 2.8% less compared to previous year. The number of family physicians’ outpatient visits decreased by 4.7% and for the other specialist physicians (gynaecologist, orthopaedist, etc.) it decreased by 1.1%. Physicians home visits also decreased by 18.4% compared to previous year. Most of the home visits (86%) are carried out by a family doctor, which decreased also by 14.9%.
2.1 million nursing personnel independent outpatient visits were registered, which increased by 0.5% compared to 2018. Family nurses made 1.45 million independent outpatient visits, which decreased by 1% (-15,000 visits). For the other profession nurses (general, rehabilitation, etc.) outpatient visits increased – they made 5% more outpatient visits. Midwives’ outpatient visits also increased by 1.1%, and total number of nursing personnel home visits decreased by 19.2% compared to 2018.
Injuries in Estonia 2019
11 SEPTEMBER 2020
Last year, 12% of the Estonian population needed medical care due to injuries. The number of people injured and the gender distribution have remained the same in recent years. The most injuries were caused by falls.
In 2019, slightly more than 156,000 Estonians needed treatment due to injuries, of which children (0–17 years) accounted for just under a third (43,603). Compared to 2018, 2,000 fewer adults needed treatment due to injuries, while the number of injured children increased by 1,724.
Injury statistics have been compiled on the basis of medical bills of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund and are available in the Health Statistics and Health Research Database.
Health care providers 2019
08 OCTOBER 2020
(News released on 24 september 2020)
There were 1428 independent health care providers at the end of 2019 in Estonia, including 52 hospitals, 431 family doctor's offices, 490 dental care providers, 317 specialist health care providers and 138 other health care providers. In 2019, 41 independent health care providers started and 43 completed their activities. Compared to previous year (2018) 9 specialist care and 1 dental care providers has added, the number of family doctor’s offices has decreased by 9 and nursing care providers by 2.
There were 539 dental care providers at the end of 2019. 9% of the dental care providers is a branch of a dental clinic or a dental department operating in another health care provider and that number has been on the same level over the past years. 43% of all dental care providers are located in Tallinn and about one tenth in Tartu. Dental care services offered 97%, orthodontic 10%, endodontic 93%, parodontic 72%, prosthetic services 72%, dental surgery procedures 51% and x-ray examinations 82% of all dental care providers in 2019.
Database table TTO60 shows data about health care providers in e-health system. By 2019, 1408 health care providers have joined with the e-health system which makes up 99% of all health care providers in Estonia. Compared to the previous year the number of health care providers that has sent data (at least one document during the year) to e-health increased by 12 and the total number is 1116 providers.
Data about health care providers by type of owner and legal form, and also dental care providers and treatment possibilities by county in 2019 were published in the Health Statistics and Health Research Database tables TTO10, TTO11, TTO40 and TTO60.
Incidence of newborns 2019
09 SEPTEMBER 2020
There were 13,925 live births in 2019 in Estonia. Of those, 4,129 were born with a health-related problem or disease.
The incidence rate of newborns per 1,000 live births is increasing year by year. In 2019, the incidence rate per 1,000 newborns was 296. A newborn baby may have multiple health related problems or conditions. In 2019, the average number of health-related problems or diseases per one newborn was two.
Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (10.8%), disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight (10.7%) and infections specific to perinatal period (10%) were equally common. As in previous years, in 2019 the most (28%) health problems were diagnosed, which are collected in health statistics under other diseases of newborns (incl. mild health problems, feeding difficulties of the newborn, as well as rare diseases and conditions).
Data about incidence of newborns is available here.
Data about livebirths is published here, death statistics is published here.