Italy permanently resides in Europe’s top-3 medical industries. Every citizen and resident with a special status has the right to receive state medical care. However, the system has problems and nuances that you should be aware of.

European Health Insurance Card. Read here how to get preferential medical care in the EU countries.

Find the 7 best places to live in Italy for a high quality of life here.

Advantages, disadvantages, peculiarities

The main advantage of treatment in Italy is the high level of local doctors’ qualifications. They are considered to be one of the best in the world and often receive invitations to the leading clinics in Israel, Switzerland, and the USA.

The disadvantage is a poorly designed system of medical services and care provision, which threatens personal and general safety. Long story short, health care in Italy is modeled in such a way that it is awfully difficult to get to a doctor on time (which is why the therapy of the consequences, rather than the prevention of serious problems, prevails). Vulnerable segments of the population — pensioners, low-income families, or families with many children — are also vulnerable from a health point of view.

In addition, the negative aspect of local medicine is affected by the following nuances:

● Italians are vigorous and positive, thus complaining, inter alia health is not generally approved here.

● The concept of childcare sick leave in Italy does not exist. If you want to devote time to it, you must take a vacation.

● Sick leave is also kind of unreachable. If offered, it will be for 3 days at maximum. If you beseech, they will extend it for another day or two. But more than 5 days of sick leave is rarely given.

● ARVI is not an excuse for skipping work, school, or kindergarten. The whole team got

sick? So what? You showed appreciation for the opportunity to earn or study, and that's the bottom line.

● Even a cold in Italy is treated with antibiotics.

The cost of medicine in Italy

Even after 20 years of living on the territory of the republic, people cannot confidently answer the question of whether medicine is paid or paid-free. On the one hand, everyone knows that it is free and it often showcases one of the greatest advantages of living on the Apennine Peninsula. But actually, the situation is not so idyllic. So, it is better to accept that medicine in Italy is free of charge yet not really.

Read more about health insurance for expats in Italy here.

What does the state offer?

The National Health Service in Italy essentially is a monopoly. Here state insurance is available only. And this very insurance provides world-famous free medical care. Without it, it is also impossible to agree with a family doctor, and thus — get free medical care, meds subsidies, etc.

But local doctors have a rather specific work schedule: e.g. only three days a week, three hours a day. Given the number of officially registered Italian population, such a schedule creates long queues and waiting lists.

The workload of therapists and limited visiting hours forces citizens and residents to call the emergency. And a large number of illegal migrants, who cannot go to doctors and therefore also have to call an ambulance, creates additional pressure on the system. As a result, primary medical care services can be obtained on a payment-free basis or at minimal expense in terms of long queues exclusively. Which is very difficult mentally and physically.

Paid services

Not all medical care in Italy is pay-free. In dentistry, all tests, procedures, and referrals to the single-discipline specialist in public institutions — are paid (the average check is about 50 euros). At the same time, official statistics for 2018 said that the waiting time for an appointment with an oculist is 2, a cardiologist — 6, and a rheumatologist — all 10 months. Currently, the situation shows not much improvement.

The only case when the services of narrow-focused specialists and manipulations do not require payment is hospitalization. If you are admitted to the hospital, all procedures, three substantial meals a day, etc. will be completely free of charge.

Referrals to specialized specialists, tests, and procedures for children under the age of 14 are also completely free of charge. But it is only available if all relevant referrals are issued by a family pediatrician.

Are there any alternatives?

If you are unable or unwilling to wait, it is possible to get help from private medical institutions and specialists. It applies not only to therapists and pediatricians but also to doctors of a narrow profile.

The cost of their attendance starts at 120 euros, and the average check is relevant to 20% of the monthly income. Considering Italian salaries, it's expensive. But foreigners from wealthier countries can afford such treatment and often use it.

Medical tourism

The qualifications of specialists and fairly reasonable prices make the country a popular destination for foreigners. Medical tourism in Italy is popular due to its high class:

● dentistry;

● aesthetic surgery;

● reproductive medicine;

● recreation at thermal springs;

It should be noted that all foreign guests of the country must have medical insurance that covers the relevant services throughout their stay. And those who are going to Italy for treatment must obtain a special permit. To get help in obtaining all the necessary papers, including visas, health insurance, and permits, you can contact our agents.

Primary medical care in Italy

● Therapists rule

Sick leaves, referrals for tests or narrow-focused specialists — all of this can be obtained only from the therapist or pediatrician only. TIt also includes prescriptions for meds that can be subsidized by the state (usually the cost of a prescription from a family doctor for a patient is only 20-30% of the actual price).

● Appointment

The way of getting an appointment depends on the family doctor: some accept preliminary appointments by phone, others — on a first-come, first-served basis only. In the first case, you may not get an examination, even if you are very unwell, and so will have to wait for a free date. In the second case, there is a chance to talk to a specialist on the day, but you will have to wait 2-3 hours.

Note: doctors in Italy do not go to patients; homes, even if the patients have a fever and 39C. If you need to see a doctor, get there. The same applies to children: in response to phone shouts that the child is on fire and everything is quite bad, you will receive advice not to waste time and take the kid to the clinic for an appointment.

If getting to your doctor is overly challenging, but you need help, it is possible to turn to private specialists. They will come to the call, listen and advise. But! They do not have the right to issue sick leave. Moreover, their prescriptions are not subject to government subsidies and must be fully paid for by the patient.

● Sick leave certificates

The situation is getting worse because, in case of absence due to illness, a sick leave certificate must be sent to the chief within 24 hours. Despite the peculiarities mentioned, it’s a hell of a challenge.

● Dial 118

Due to force majeure, the only way out is to call an ambulance. Then the arrive paramedics, whose duties include emergency first aid provision as well as delivery of critically ill patients to the nearest hospital. Yet Italians prefer to get to the institution by taxi.

Once in the hospital, the situation is not getting easy: if the doctor on duty decides that the case is not that extreme, you will have to wait about 2-3 hours. But when you get an appointment, you will be examined from head to toe, tests will be taken, ultrasound/MRI/echocardiogram and other necessary manipulations will be done.