In Lombardy is there free access to Health Care?
Lombardy has universal healthcare coverage, but only some services are completely free. The co-pay fee is called “Ticket” and it is applied to some emergency room visits, specialist consultations, diagnostic procedures and lab analyses.
I’m an EU country citizen or an extra EU, should I need an health insurance?
European Citizens are eligible to access freely in Italy to healthcare under the European Mechanism of Health Insurance. The services will be offered at no fee or at a lower fee. In the second case in the home country the citizen is eligible to a refund belonging to the national health coverage system. The access to the emergency department is always free. The access to out of hours GP assistance is under the payment of a co-pay fee of 20,00 euros at the clinic, 35 euros at home. The EU citizen accessing an NHS service will be asked to provide the national health insurance card with the European Health Insurance Card – EHIC number.
Not EU citizen have to verify if it’s existing a mutual agreement between their country and Italy to access to free or lower fee NHS services.
At private practices it’s all out of pocket services, so it’s a full private fee.
Olympic cluster will have access to Olympic health services following the specific instructions given to this kind of patients.
More informations are available at the Italian Ministry of Health dedicated pages:
How I call the Emergency Number?
If you are in an Emergency and need an ambulance you can dial the universal emergency number 112 It works with any phone, even those that do not have a local Sim, if they are enabled to do emergency calls. This number will connect you to the emergency services, including police, ambulance, and fire department. When you dial 112, a trained operator will answer your call. It is important to clearly communicate the nature of the emergency, your location, and any relevant details to ensure the appropriate help is dispatched promptly. The operator will guide you through the necessary steps and provide assistance until help arrives.
How to download and to use the emergency app Where Are U?
As the Universal number 112 is enabled in Lombardy region, The Ministry of Interior WHERE ARE U app allows you to be located accurately and provides an interpreter service in 12 different languages. You can download the WHERE ARE U app for free from the main app stores.
How to access to the Emergency Department?
For emergency assistance you can call the European Emergency number 112 (no country code needed). The service is provided at no charge, but of course only for serious medical conditions requiring emergency response. Patients accessing the ED are not seen in order of arrival but based on the urgency of their need, assessed through a standard evaluation process called triage.
What do I do if I need urgent or not urgent medical assistance and it is not an emergency?
If you are not in an emergency but need medical assistance and/or you are positive for Covid-19 related symptoms and need to undergo surveillance, call 116117 (assistential continuity/tourist assistance number) overnight and during weekends.
People belonging to Olympic closed loop will have to download an app related to not urgent care number 116117 to access to the services and be conducted to the ones reserved to the Olympic family pathways.
Is there a number to book a medical consultation or exam?
To book a specialist’s consult at an outpatient service through the national health service there is the central regional booking service number 800 638 638 or by mobile 02 999599. To undertake a private practice appointment, it is needed to contact directly the booking numbers of the clinicians or of the private practices.
How may I reach a General Practitioner?
To reach a General Practioner as a foreign citizen must be called the number 116.117 or to contact directly one at walk-in services (Case di Comunità) or through the help service at a chemistry.
Is there a number to reach the 24 Hrs on call pharmacy?
To reach the out of hours chemistry/drugstore it is possible to visit the website of the representative union of Lombardy pharmacies where through a web app or downloading the mobile app on apple or android stores you may find the nearest open one 24/day.
May I submit to a chemistry a drug prescription released in my origin country?
A medical prescription issued in a EU country should have been recognised in all other EU countries (Article 11 of Directive 2011/24/EU of 9 March 2011). The easiest way to proceed is to ask a local doctor to re-issue the prescription.
I would like to undertake a vaccine, how may I book it?
To undertake a vaccine through the National Health Service it is needed to book an appointment at a vaccine center calling the regional booking service number 800 638 638 or by mobile 02 999599, or through a chemistry help service or it is possible to undertake directly at the drugstore the vaccines for flu and covid-19 only. It is possible to access to all vaccines also at the airport accessing to the Health Custom and Border Authority (USMAF) in Milano Malpensa Terminal 2, Milano Linate, Bergamo Orio al Serio, Turin Caselle, Venice Marco Polo, Rome Fiumicino Terminal 1. On the institutional information site Wikivaccines will be implemented a dedicated Olympics section containing all the useful information on recommended vaccinations and how to access dedicated vaccination clinics.
How I may undertake a not urgent medical consultation or exam?
To undertake a not urgent medical appointment or exam it is needed in the NHS pathways to book an appointment with an NHS medical prescription calling the regional number or at the chemistry help booking service. In the private practices is needed only the booking at the chosen one except for the radiology service which requires always a prescription (private or NHS note).
In Lombardy hospitals is it spoken English?
The majority of Lombardy NHS and private practices hospitals staff speaks english, in any case if needed an interpreter would be accomodated.
Which are the Olympic Hospitals in Lombardy?
The Olympic Hub Hospital is Niguarda Hospital in Milan, which has a spoke hospital service at Sondalo hospital.
May I buy drugs without a medical prescription in Lombardy?
Yes, Over The Counter drugs are marked with a recognition label visible on the outer packaging, featuring the inscription “Medicine without prescription requirement.” These drugs are available in pharmacies and some supermarkets, in designated areas where a pharmacist is present. They are divided into without prescription required drugs, which the pharmacist recommends when necessary, and,
over the counter drugs, these are self-medication drugs that customers can freely purchase in pharmacies. Advertising to the public is permitted for this category of medicines.