Despite an increase in the visit fee for specialist medical care and emergency services from five euros to twenty euros last year, there continues to be many patients visiting the North Estonia Regional Hospital with minor health concerns that could be addressed by general practitioners instead. Kristiina Vaas, the head of emergency medical services at the Health Insurance Fund, stated that the number of patients has decreased by 12 percent compared to January of last year, following the fee increase. In January of this year, emergency departments across Estonia averaged 648 patient visits per day.

The data also indicates that patients categorized under 'green' and 'blue' triage categories, which represent less urgent medical conditions, have been a significant part of emergency department traffic. By 2025, these less urgent referrals accounted for 58 percent of all emergency department visits, leading to an estimated total treatment cost of around 310 million euros. The waiting time for these patients can extend up to six hours, showcasing the strain on emergency services despite the intended reduction in self-referred visits.

This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of patient education and the healthcare system’s ability to redirect patients appropriately. The continual strain on emergency departments suggests a need for better public awareness regarding appropriate use of emergency services, as well as possible adjustments in healthcare policy to alleviate the pressure and better address minor health issues in primary care settings.