Italy

To see a general practitioner, visit a public health centre (casa della salute or centro di assistenza primaria) run by the ASL. You can also consult a general practitioner (medico di medicina generale or medico di famiglia) who is registered with the Italian National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, SSN) by requesting an occasional visit (visita occasionale).

You can obtain a list of such doctors, for example, from the ASL (Local Health Unit), a pharmacy, or the healthcare section of the regional websites. You can always receive emergency medical care at a hospital emergency department (pronto soccorso ospedaliero). In the evenings, on weekends, and during holidays, you can also receive emergency medical care from the territorial emergency medical service (Guardia Medica).

At the reception, show your European Health Insurance Card and identity card. This will allow you to receive treatment free of charge at all public and private healthcare providers accredited by the Italian National Health Service. However, you may have to pay a deductible (referred to as a ‘ticket’).

You can see a specialist if you have a general practitioner´s referral. Private hospitals that collaborate with the Italian National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) may have varying policies regarding referrals.To obtain treatment at the co-pay rate, the specialist must be approved by the ASL or by a general practitioner (medico di medicina generale) following an occasional visit. You will pay a co-pay fee, which may vary locally, for appointments with specialists and for laboratory tests.

Dental care in Italy is mainly provided by private practitioners who are not required to accept the EHIC, so you will need to pay the full cost billed. However, a number of dental clinics run by the local health authorities (ASL) and other NHS-affiliated clinics offer certain dental treatments.

Please be aware that these treatments are subject to co-payment (ticket) and usually have long waiting lists.

In exceptional and urgent circumstances, a dental consultation is possible at clinics within SSN hospitals providing urgent dental treatment. Nevertheless, you will need to cover some of the treatment costs.

Always present your European Health Insurance Card when you ask for a prescription from a doctor who is a member of or has a contract with the SSN system. Also present your card at the pharmacy (farmacia) when you buy prescription medicines. Medicine prescriptions are valid for 30 days in Italy.

For some prescription medicines, you will only have to pay part of the cost while, for others, you will have to pay the full cost even if you present your European Health Insurance Card. You can get more information from pharmacies.

If you have to pay for the medicines in full yourself, you can claim for reimbursement from Kela afterwards.

You can access public and accredited private hospitals through the emergency room by presenting your EHIC or a provisional replacement certificate. Some emergency room services, identified by a specific code, are subject to a co-payment (“ticket”).

Hospital admissions are free of charge; however, if you prefer more comfort, you may request a private room for an additional fee. Ambulance services are generally free of charge with a European Health Insurance Card.

Remember to make sure that your patient data is transferred between countries. You can provide those responsible for your follow-up care or your health centre with the patient records concerning the treatment you received abroad. If the patient records need to be translated, you will be responsible for arranging that yourself.

An electronic Patient Summary is in use between Italy and Finland, which means that doctors can, to a limited extent, view the health information that has been previously recorded about you in Finland. The Patient Summary contains information such as diagnoses, prescriptions and allergies. Check with your place of treatment whether they use the Patient Summary. You must also give your consent in MyKanta for the use of the Patient Summary.

Read more about the Patient Summary on the MyKanta website

In the event of a treatment injury, the legislation and patient insurance of the country where the care is provided always apply. If you are unhappy with the treatment you received, you should first try to resolve the matter with the treatment provider, the hospital’s Health Directorate (direzione sanitaria), or the Local Health Unit (ASL). 

You can also contact the local Office for Relations with the Public (Ufficio Relazioni con il Pubblico, URP). The National Contact Point can assist you in finding the appropriate authority if you wish to file a complaint.

If you are dissatisfied with the treatment you received in Italy, you can contact the National Contact Point of Italy. They can provide guidance to foreign patients on the complaints procedure and any potential legal action.

The Ministry of Health is the main authority responsible for public healthcare in Italy and guarantees the core package of healthcare services, known as the Essential Levels of Care (LEA).

Regional authorities are responsible for organising and providing healthcare services through local health units.