The agency that administers the Italian National Health Service, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) in Bologna is called the ASL – Agenzia Sanitaria Locale (local health agency), also known as Azienda USL or AUSL. You can call the regional Azienda USL’s free information number at 800 033 033 or check their website www.ausl.bologna.it.
REGISTERING FOR THE SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale)
Citizens of EU countries can register for the National Health Service after three months of being in Italy, provided they work legally in the country, or are related to someone who does. EU citizens residing in Italy for over five years get access regardless of their work status and EU students can register for it too, even if they’re not registered as residents.
Non-EU citizens need to be duly registered and possess the residence permit (permesso di soggiorno). More information can be found here www.guidaservizi.fascicolo-sanitario.it.
For the healthcare status of UK citizens resident in Italy, please consult the up-to-date information on the www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-italy and, even better, subscribe to their email updates www.gov.uk/email-signup.
However, health services are also available to immigrants who do not have the required paperwork, especially to mothers and children (www.guidaservizi.fascicolo-sanitario.it).
To register for coverage you need to first obtain an individual tax identification number (codice fiscale) (more detailed information in English can be found here www.agenziaentrate.gov.it). This can be requested at your local questura (police headquarters) or at the Ufficio Immigrazione della Questura di Bologna (for contact information check www.questure.poliziadistato.it). You may even be able to obtain the codice fiscale by applying through the Italian consulate before moving to Italy.
To finish registering, find the nearest central booking point, called CUP (Centro Unico Prenotazioni) or head to your local pharmacy for more information. For more details, please check www.guidaservizi.fascicolo-sanitario.it, for the list of CUP points in and around Bologna, where you can inquire about health services available to you and make reservations for various health appointments – check www.ausl.bologna.it.
HEALTHCARE CARD AND FASCICOLO SANITARIO
When you register with the SSN you will be given a tessera sanitaria (healthcare card) with your registration number and codice fiscale. A plastic version that looks like a credit card with a chip will arrive in the mail. Your doctor may ask to see your tessera when filling out a prescription and you will have to show it when you make an appointment to see a specialist, sign up for other services or to get your prescription medicines at the pharmacy. The health card is linked to your on-line health folder, i.e. Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico, where you can find all your exam results, bookings and other health-related information. Since the Covid-19 pandemic almost all health related issues now go through the fascicolo sanitario. This includes making appointments for specialist visits. To register, download the app ER-Salute and follow the instructions (you must have the SPID in order to access this service). Alternatively, once you have the credentials (SPID and passwords) you can access your fascicolo at the computer through the website https://www.fascicolo-sanitario.it/fse/;jsessionid=CE2554185D7FF7CDBD0BA8EB1D5E4B2E?0
See this page for more info https://support.fascicolo-sanitario.it/
For more info on your paperwork (codice fiscale, SPID, etc.) see the section Residence & Paperwork in Plugging In
VISITING YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR/GENERAL PRACTITIONER
Most doctors schedule appointments, (increasingly through apps/webistes such as Doctolib , but be prepared to spend some time in the waiting room. If you are used to having long conversations with your physician, you might be in for a surprise. General practitioners usually see many patients in a limited amount of time. They are adept at making quick diagnoses and tend to keep small talk to a minimum.
AFTER HOURS CARE
For NON-emergency medical care after hours for adults and children, call (051- 3131) or visit the Continuità Assistenziale (ex- guardia medica) https://www.ausl.bologna.it/cit/cagm/il-servizio-di-continuita-assistenziale-la-guardia (doctor on-call). These doctors are available for advice and for writing prescriptions when your medico di base is no longer on duty, and that is nights from 20:00-8:00; pre-holidays from 10:00-20:00; and holidays from 8:00-20:00.
This service is also available for non-resident foreigners or Italians (a small fee is charged).
You can find the after hours doctor’s clinics in several places spread out over the Bologna area but if you think you have a potentially serious problem, you’d better go directly to the emergency care or ‘Pronto Soccorso‘ of the nearest hospital.
Bologna
- Via Beroaldo, 4/2 (Bologna Est)
- Via Montebello, 6 (Bologna Ovest)
Reno Lavino Samoggia
- Piazzale R. Levi Montalcini, 5 (Casalecchio)
- Via Lavino, 17/A (Monte San Pietro)
- Via Marconi, 17 (Savigno)
Pianura Est
- Via Marconi, 35 (Bentivoglio)
- Via Prov. Circonvallazione, 47 (Molinella)
- Via Asia, 61 (S. Pietro in Casale)
- Via Marconi, 16 (Castenaso)
Pianura Ovest
- Via Marzocchi, 2 (S. Giovanni in Persiceto)
- Viale Libertà, 171 (Crevalcore)
Savena Idice
- Via Roma, 8 (Loiano)
- Viale Risorgimento, 8 (Pianoro)
Appennino
- Via Zagnoni, 5 (Alto Reno Terme)
- Via dell’Ospedale, 1 (Vergato)
- Via Val di Setta, 4/A (Vado)
SPECIALIST VISITS AND TESTS
Your medico di base might refer you to a specialist or order diagnostic tests. You will be sent off with a formal request slip on paper or in digital format on your fascicolo sanitario and it will be your responsibility to book your appointment. You can do this online directly through your fascicolo sanitario, or via phone by calling 800 88 48 88 or in person at one of the CUP offices inside pharmacies, AUSL buildings and hospitals. Note that at time of writing not all specialist appointments can be made at the CUP or on line since the waiting lists are very long, up to 6 months or more. If you have to pay, you can do that in advance on-line or in person at the place of your appointment. You can print a reminder of your appointment with all the details, but even more importantly, bring a printed version of your doctor’s referral which states the reason for the visit.
You will be charged a fee for most specialists visits and tests, the amount of which depends on your income level and possible exemption due to chronic problems such as allergies or chronic diseases.
If you’re suffering from chronic diseases, you may have the right to reduced fees for specialist medical visits and exams. See this site for the list of problems that are included:
You may have to wait several months to see a specialist or get a test done and sometimes it is impossible to book an appointment through the public health care system. You can choose to go private or you may consider buying a health care insurance that allows choosing private clinics that are affiliated to the public health care system.
Tip: it is usually easier to get specialist appointments in August during vacation time.
NO COVERAGE OPTIONS, FREE HEALTH CARE & EXAMINATIONS
If you do not qualify for the SSN and/or do not have the resources to pay for private care, there are several facilities providing health care coverage that are associated with the public health care system. For a complete list see:
Specific help for immigrant women and their children is listed here:
https://www.ausl.bologna.it/guida-ai-servizi/luoghi/15203
SOKOS is an association of volunteers that has, since 1993, been providing free social and health assistance to immigrants without a residence permit, to homeless people and to anyone living in a condition of social exclusion.
Ambulatorio Sokos
via Gorky 12
Tel. 051.0416380
www.sokos.it
Casa Della Salute San Vitale San Donato
Family Center for the Health of Immigrants Their Children
via Via Filippo Beroaldo 4/2
Tel. 051.6375818
Ambulatorio Biavati
vicolo Alemagna 3
Tel. 051.229773
Basic medical assistance for refugees/immigrants/migrants, including specialist consultations in pediatrics, cardiology and dermatology. The service is free, no document is needed.
Languages spoken: Arabic, English, French
Open every day (including holidays) from 17:30-19:00
Salute Senza Margini
via Cimarosa 5/2
Casalecchio di Reno
Open Monday and Thursday from 16:30-18:30
Tel. 051.596795