Estonian medical groups push back against Russian in healthcare

Four leading medical organisations in Estonia have raised concerns over the growing use of Russian in the country’s healthcare system. The groups warn that relying on foreign languages could weaken the role of Estonian in professional settings. Their statement calls for stronger support of the national language across medical institutions. The Estonian Society of Medical Students, the Association of Young Doctors, the Union of Doctors, and the Estonian Nurses’ Union have all signed the appeal. They argue that job advertisements in healthcare should not automatically demand foreign language skills. Instead, the required level of Estonian proficiency should be assessed during recruitment.

The organisations also urge medical institutions to actively promote Estonian as the primary language for professional communication. They want employers to remind staff about existing legal language requirements. Their goal is to ensure that Estonian remains the standard in patient care and workplace discussions.

The joint statement highlights the need for clearer language policies in healthcare hiring. By evaluating Estonian skills during recruitment, the groups aim to maintain high standards of communication. The move comes as part of broader efforts to reinforce the use of the national language in public services.