Health Protection Inspectorate (HPI, Tervisekaitseinspektsioon), Tallin, Estonia

Contact person

Kuulo Kutsar, MD, PhD, Associated Professor
Advisor in Epidemiology
Health Protection Inspectorate
Paldiski mnt 81 10617 Tallinn, Estonia
Tel + 372 6943 506
Fax + 372 6943 506

Description of the institute

HPI is a governmental public health institute under the Ministry of Social Affairs with main responsibility on communicable disease surveillance and control and environmental health control. HPI has 15 county public health offices with one public health officer / epidemiologist in each. Local outbreaks are handled at county level with active support from HPI department of epidemiology. Activity of the epidemiology service is supported by HPI Central Lab for Microbiology and four small regional microbiology labs and Central Lab for Virology. Infrastructure of the department of epidemiology (sub-units);
  1. Early warning and response
  2. Surveillance and outbreak investigation support
  3. Data management (Management of CD register)
  4. Quarantine service
  5. Management of immunization programme
National training programme on communicable disease epidemiology is managered by the department. The department has close co/operation with WHO/Euro on several communicable disease control programmes and expanded programme on immunization as well as with several EC disease specific networks. The department has experience on development of 1) legal documents on communicable disease control and 2) epidemic/pandemic preparedness plans. HPI is represented in ECDC Management Board and Advisory Forum.

Training opportunities and supervision

Estonia is a small country with a simple infrastructure for communicable disease epidemiology and modest opportunities for EPIET training.

HPI could be used as on supportive/temporary training site on outbreak investigation for EPIET fellows residing in KTL, Helsinki (80 km), SMI, Stockholm (400 km) or Riga, Latvia (300 km).

Language requirements

Some knowledge of Estonian is essential, specially working at regional and local level. English and Russian are spoken in Estonia. EPIET fellow could manage in English at national level.

Training history

Number of EPIET fellows trained at institute: None Available as a training site for cohort 12: No		    
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