Italy's public healthcare system — the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) — is universal and free at the point of use for all registered residents, including foreign nationals with a valid permesso di soggiorno (and, in many regions, for EU citizens who have registered with their Comune).

The quality varies significantly by region. The north (especially Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, and Veneto) is generally excellent; parts of the south have longer waits and more resource constraints. Everywhere, the system is free, comprehensive, and dependent on your ability to navigate its specific vocabulary.

Getting Access

Tessera sanitaria — the health card, your key to the public health system. It contains your codice fiscale (tax code), your name, and your health service entitlements. Required at every medical appointment and at the pharmacy for prescription medications. Issued by the ASL after you register.

ASL — Azienda Sanitaria Locale. The local health authority. Italy's health system is decentralised: each region manages its own ASL, which in turn covers a specific territory. Your ASL is determined by your address. To access public healthcare, you register with your local ASL.

Codice fiscale — your Italian tax code, required for the tessera sanitaria and for all interactions with the Italian health system. Get this as soon as you arrive.

Iscrizione al SSN — registration with the national health service. Done at the local ASL office with your codice fiscale, identity document, and residence proof. EU citizens typically need proof of iscrizione anagrafica (commune registration); non-EU residents need their permesso di soggiorno.

Scelta del medico — choice of doctor. After SSN registration, you choose your medico di base (GP) from the list assigned to your area. You cannot simply go to any doctor; you need to pick one and register with them.

Your GP

Medico di base / Medico di medicina generale — your GP. The Italian equivalent of a Hausarzt or médecin traitant. Your first point of contact for all non-emergency health matters. Access to specialists requires a richiesta (referral) from your medico di base, except in emergencies.

Ambulatorio — the surgery / doctor's office. Your medico di base operates an ambulatorio with set visiting hours.

Orario di ricevimento — visiting hours (when the doctor is available without an appointment). Some doctors also take appointments (appuntamenti); others operate on a walk-in basis during their orario.

Impegnativa / Richiesta del medico — the referral or request form issued by your medico di base for specialist visits, tests, or procedures under the public system. Without this, you pay the full cost privately.

Pediatra di libera scelta — a paediatrician chosen for children under the age of 14, replacing the medico di base for young patients.

The Specialist System

Visita specialistica — a specialist appointment.

Specialista — specialist. Common specialties: cardiologo (cardiologist), dermatologo (dermatologist), neurologo (neurologist), ortopedico (orthopaedist), ginecologo (gynaecologist), oculista/oftalmologo (ophthalmologist).

CUP — Centro Unico di Prenotazione. The central booking centre for specialist appointments and diagnostic tests in the public system. You can book by phone, online, or at sportelli CUP (CUP counters) in hospitals and health centres. Waits can be long — weeks to months for non-urgent specialist visits.

Ticket sanitario — the co-payment for specialist visits and diagnostic tests in the public system. Exemptions (esenzione) exist for low-income residents, chronic conditions, and certain patient categories.

Esenzione — exemption from co-payment. If you qualify, you receive an exemption code that eliminates or reduces the ticket.

Intramoenia — specialist services provided within public hospitals by public doctors, but on a private-fee basis (faster access, higher cost). A formal part of the system, not a workaround.

At the Appointment

Ho un dolore qui. — I have a pain here. [Point]

Ho la febbre. — I have a fever.

Ho mal di testa / mal di gola / mal di stomaco / mal di schiena. — I have a headache / sore throat / stomach ache / back pain.

Ho la nausea. — I feel nauseous.

Ho la tosse. — I have a cough.

Sono allergico/a a... — I am allergic to...

Prendo questi farmaci regolarmente. — I take these medications regularly.

Da quanto tempo? — For how long? Answer with: "Da [X] giorni" or "Dalla settimana scorsa".

Ricetta — prescription.

Farmaco — medication.

Farmaco generico — generic medication.

Posologia — dosage instructions.

Certificates and Paperwork

Certificato medico — medical certificate.

Certificato di malattia — sick leave certificate (for employed workers). Must be sent electronically by the doctor to INPS (the social security institute) within 24 hours, which notifies your employer.

Codice di malattia — the numerical code for the illness, recorded on the sick leave certificate.

INPS — Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale. The social security authority that manages sick pay and other benefits.

Emergencies

Pronto Soccorso — the emergency department (A&E).

118 — the medical emergency number in Italy. Connects to the ambulance service.

Codice rosso / arancione / verde / bianco — the triage colour code at Pronto Soccorso: red (immediate), orange (urgent), green (non-urgent), white (not an emergency). Non-urgent cases wait much longer.

Guardia Medica — the out-of-hours GP service, available evenings, nights, weekends, and public holidays. A bridge between your medico di base and the Pronto Soccorso for urgent but non-emergency issues.

Italy's healthcare vocabulary rewards preparation. The system is good — knowing how to navigate it is what makes it work for you.

Medical Italian is too important to learn on the day you need it. Vokabulo helps you build the vocabulary for your specific situation, before the appointment. Available on iPhone and iPad.