How to book a doctor's appointment

International students must call the Legevakt (Emergency Ward) at (+47) 116 117 and will be referred to a doctor's office if needed. 

At Helsehuset in central Elverum, there is also a good offer of private practitioners – for example, physiotherapists and chiropractors. Make sure to check with your insurance what is covered and not.

International students must go to Koppang for a doctor's appointment. Call the Stor-Elvdal kommunale legekontor at (+47) 62 46 34 00. If you have issues calling or booking an appointment, drop by the International Office for assistance. 

Appointments at either Elverum Hospital or Tynset Hospital are arranged via the doctor’s office.

If you are staying less than 6 months, or have not reported a move to Norway, you can get a doctor's appointment by:

• Contacting a GP clinic (legekontor) directly. View the clinics on the Hamar Municipality's webpage (external link).
• Contacting the Emergency Ward (legevakt) on (+47) 116 117 for an urgent appointment. View the Hamar interkommunale legevakt's webpage for more information (external link).

It is important to note that there may be long wait times to get a doctor's appointment in Hamar. The International Office at INN can guide students to the appropriate services.

In some instances, students might need to use private clinics. The most popular option for private healthcare is Volvat. Make sure to check with your insurance what is covered and not.

Students not assigned a GP can call the Emergency Ward (legevakt) at (+47) 116 177, or their direct number (+47) 61 26 64 30. The Emergency Ward will decide whether to send you to a doctor's office or, e.g., to go directly to the Emergency Ward. 

There are various private clinics in Lillehammer; however, students are recommended to use the public doctor's offices, as there is not much waiting time. If you want to go to a private clinic, make sure to check what your insurance covers. 

If you have issues calling or booking an appointment, drop by the International Office for assistance. 

Health station for students of all ages

Lillehammer municipality offers a health station at Familiens hus, where one can, e.g. test for sexually transmitted diseases. Translate their Norwegian webpage for detailed information on where to go (external link). 

Sometimes, you might get a prescription for medication when visiting the doctor. Ask the front desk for a physical copy of the prescription if you have not yet received one directly from the doctor. It is recommended to make a copy/take a photo of the printed version, as you may need it as proof for your insurance. 

Deliver the prescription to a pharmacy in Norway and pay the prescription fee. Remember to bring valid identification. The prescription fee varies by medication.

Regular pain medication (paracetamol and similar), nasal spray for colds, band-aids and more can be bought at the cash register in a regular grocery store. Other medications must be purchased at a pharmacy.

If you require specialist treatments, you need a referral from a Doctor's Office to see a specialist. This will be the cheapest option, but it may take some time. 

Another option is visiting private clinics. You do not need a referral to visit them, however make sure to check with your insurance whether or not they cover this option - before you book an appointment. This option is much more expensive. 

Some Doctor's offices collaborate with private clinics. If you get a referral from the Doctor to a private clinic, you only need to pay the user fee. 

Be aware that everyone must pay a user fee when visiting the Doctor's Office. How much the user fee is depends on what is done at the appointment.

For more information, view the webpage of Norway's Health Organization (external link).

When calling, it is important that you remember the following:

• You may need to call several times to get through.
• If they speak Norwegian and you cannot understand, say, "Do you speak English?" or something similar.
• Tell them you are an international student and need to see a doctor. Remember to explain your situation in detail.
• Sometimes, they will advise you on what to do (e.g., take some painkillers and rest) and ask you to call again later if your condition worsens. 

They may also ask you about the following:

• Full name
• Phone number (including country code)
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Your postal address in Norway

If you have issues calling, ask a fellow student if you can call using their phone, and if that does not work, reach out to the International Office for help.

It would be best to arrive early, as you may be called in before your appointment. However, appointments are often delayed 5-15 minutes (or more).

Make sure to bring the following when you go to the appointment:

• Your passport/ID card
• Your credit/debit card
• Proof of insurance (e.g., the EHIC card for EU/EEA citizens)
• Medical documentation if you have any special needs or any prescriptions back home (if relevant)

If you need help finding the Doctor's Office, use Google Maps.

When you arrive, go to the front desk of the Doctor's office to register. Provide them with the documents you bring. This may take some minutes. Afterwards, wait until a doctor calls your name. 

Please be aware of the following:

• If you have muscle pain, a sprain or something similar, the doctor may tell you to get some rest and use painkillers. If the pain does not go away or worsens within a week, they will tell you to call again for a new appointment. This is a common practice in Norway.
• However, being referred to an X-ray or similar at the hospital/clinic is uncommon unless you show symptoms indicating broken bones or serious diseases. In addition, getting a referral may take months unless the situation is dire. 

When you finish your appointment, ask the front desk how to pay and receive a a physical (printed) copy of the receipt. 

• In some cases, they will send the bill to your phone number so that you can pay online with your card. In such cases, you will not get a proper receipt for your insurance. It is then recommended to ask whether there is another way to pay.
• Usually, they will refer you to the payment machine. There, you enter your date of birth and can pay by card. A receipt will be printed. However, it is not very detailed and only states that you have paid the amount. If you need a detailed receipt, ask at the front desk. 

There might be other ways to pay, but it is recommended to just ask the front desk.