“When I’m on holiday in another region, what should I do about my medication or seeing a doctor?”
The Association for Citizen Participation and Protection answers questions about rights and access to healthcare services.
“In a few days’ time, I’ll be going on holiday to another region of Italy. I suffer from high blood pressure and I have a question: if I were to feel unwell or run out of my life-saving medication, can I see a local doctor or go to A&E without having to pay? Is my health card valid outside my own region?”
The good news is that, yes, your health card is valid throughout Italia: wherever you are, the National Health Service guarantees healthcare. What varies from region to region, however, is how you access healthcare, and this is precisely where it’s worth clarifying a few things before you set off, to avoid any unpleasant surprises or unnecessary expenses.
Let’s start with a basic fact: for genuine emergencies, the A&E department is always available to everyone, with no distinction between residents and non-residents. The situation is different when it comes to a routine consultation or the need to renew a prescription: in such cases, you cannot simply turn up at a local GP’s surgery as if it were your own, simply because it isn’t. Instead, you must use the out-of-hours medical service for tourists, or a private GP service.
A few practical tips can make all the difference. The first – obvious but often overlooked – is to carry your health card (TEAM) and a copy, even if only on your mobile phone, of your treatment plan or regular prescriptions. In seaside or mountain resorts during the summer, the tourist medical service is almost always available, designed specifically for non-residents: consultations are guaranteed for everyone, although in some regions you’ll be charged a reduced co-payment, generally between 15 and 30 euros depending on whether it’s an outpatient or home visit.
Where this service is not available, the Out-of-Hours Medical Service – formerly known as the ‘guardia medica’ – remains in operation at night and on public holidays. During the week, however, you can consult a local general practitioner for an ‘occasional consultation’: in this case, you pay the doctor directly, who will issue a receipt, and it is always best to check their consultation hours in advance and book an appointment.
