Access HIV Medication - Finnish Citizen Moving To Finland

[nick83]

Hello all,

First off, I can't begin to describe how much this forum has assisted me. Thank you to everyone!

I have a rather unique situation here! I'm a gay, HIV positive, Canadian/Australian/Finnish Citizen (the last obtained by declaration a few years back as my mom was born in Finland) currently residing in Sydney, Australia. I want to Finland permanently to pursue a university education while integrating back into my family's homeland. I'm applying this month into a number of Business Information Technology degree programs, hoping to sit the exams in April, and then start in August 2014. Whether or not I'm accepted will probably not influence my decision to move to Finland; probably just date of move.

From my understanding as I am a Finnish Citizen I will be eligible for Kela housing/student benefits, as well as health care coverage. Australia and Finland have a reciprocal agreement, and as such even if for some obscure reason I can not be covered by Kela, I will receive coverage through the reciprocal agreement. As I'm a Finnish Citizen, I should be covered by Kela as I intend to reside in Finland permanently.

I am currently on medication for my HIV, and I will be able to take four months supply out of Australia and into Finland. However, I can not seem to find any information of how I can access medication in Finland once I need more. Does anyone have experience with obtaining HIV medication in Finland? I have checked websites such as Aids Map and the Finnish Aids Council, but they don't offer any specific information on how to actually get medication. In Australia there's lots of hoops to jump through in order for an HIV positive person (even covered under health care) to access medication; is it similar to this in Finland? Or is it as easy as bringing a letter from my current doctor, going to a public health care doctor, who will then refer me on to a hospital?

On a side note, from my understanding, as I have multiple nationality and in 2014 I will be turing 31 years old, I will not be liable for military service. Can someone please confirm this?

Thanks for any assistance!

[Pursuivant]

They wouldn't take you in the army with HIV in any case, so that point is moot.
I'd suggest you look up at http://www.hivtukikeskus.fi they have info pages & you can submit questions.