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*"Nobody knows what kinds of diseases these people have, said Tuomola.
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Se...foreigners+to+open+in+Helsinki+/1135265132266
Helsingin Sanomat International Edition
Secret medical clinic for undocumented foreigners to open in Helsinki
April 4, 2011
A clinic for undocumented foreigners is starting operations in an undisclosed location in Helsinki later in the week.
Undocumented foreigners are not entitled to public health care in Finland because they lack a personal ID number, and many cannot afford to buy medicines.
The founder of the clinic, Pekka Tuomola, says that the clinic will operate on one evening each week for a few hours at a time.
“On the first evening there will be eight people working there”, he says.
According to Tuomola, about 20 doctors and health care professionals have volunteered to take part in the activities.
The doctors at the clinic will be able to treat infections and other basic illnesses.
“There won’t be much equipment beyond a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor. Basic medicines will also be acquired.”
Tuomola says that the doctors face a challenging task if any of the patients have conditions requiring longer-term treatment.
“Life-threatening conditions are treated in Finland. Nobody asks for papers at that point”, Tuomola says.
“But cases requiring lengthier testing are a big problem. We are now collecting experiences about how these kinds of things are dealt with. Nobody knows what kinds of diseases these people have.”
It is also not known who will use the services of the clinic.
Police estimate that there are about 1,000 undocumented people in Finland, but the clinic is also available to Roma from Romania, who are citizens of the European Union.
The location of the clinic will remain a secret. Tuomola expects that word of the clinic will reach the intended patients in some way or other.
“The information will be passed on through various organisations and by word of mouth. We are not advertising this in any way.”
The location is known to the police, who have promised not to interfere in its activities.
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