By Marco De La Pierre

E111 or E128 forms
Make sure you have taken out your health insurance. If you live in Europe, make sure you get an E111 or E128 forms before coming to Italy, and don’t forget to bring them with you!

These forms are the required documents for medical assistance and are issued by the official body for healthcare in your country. In Italy, E111 or 128 application forms are available at the ASL offices.

To prove you are covered in your own country, Form E 111 must be carried. You are then entitled to urgent treatment for accident or unexpected illness. This only covers temporary stays with a maximum of 1 year (or, exceptionally, 2 years if on secondment).

Health Services
Emergency healthcare is available free for all students, tourists, travelers through the Italian National Health System (Azienda Sanitaria, www.asf.toscana.it).

Citizens from the European Union are entitled to most other kinds of treatment free or at a reduced cost if they show the E111 or the E128 form upon their arrival at the Azienda Sanitaria (Borgo Ognissanti, 20 Ph. +39 055 228 5500)

There are about 1.300 state hospitals in Italy with about 350.000 beds. Almost all hospitals have out-patient clinics and the majority also have emergency facilities.

To call emergency (dial 118)
In an emergency, you will need to go to your nearest casualty department (Pronto Soccorso) and wait to be treated. If you are unable to do so, call 118 and the appropriate medical service will be sent to you.

Medical insurance
In Italy medical insurance is compulsory for everybody.
Socrates and all foreign students must also be insured when they come to Italy.
The medical insurance you have in your country is always recognised by the Italian authorities, but, before coming to Italy you will have to contact your own authority regarding your insurance:

If you have a public insurance:
Ask the institution that runs your insurance to issue the E111 MODEL, with this paper your insurance will be automatically extended to Italy.

If you have a private insurance:
The Italian authorities recognise private insurance papers only if they are officially translated in Italian by an Italian Consulate. Therefore ask your insurance company for a paper that states that you are also insured for Italy and send it to the nearest Italian Consulate asking for an official translation of the document.

Any treatment, in private hospitals, dental work and secondary examinations, is not covered and therefore it is very important for all non-Italian citizens to be covered by a private or public health insurance before arriving in Italy.

Tourist Medical Center
Here you can find English, French, German speaking doctors. This center is located in:

Via Lorenzo il Magnifico, 59
Ph. +39 055 475 411
Fax +39 055 474 983
E-mail: medserv@tin.it

For home visits 24/7 call the +39 055 475 411.
Also a walk in service is available (6 days a week):
Mon thru Fri: 11am to 12 and 5pm to 6pm
Sat: 11am to 12

For appointments call +39 055 475 411
Mon, Wed and Fri: 10,30am to 1pm
Mon and Fri: 3pm to 7pm

Walk-in with English speaking physician:

Guardia medica turistica
Vicolo degli Adimari, 1
Ph. +39 055 212 221
Mon thru Fri: 8am to 8pm
Sat: 8am thru 1pm

Useful numbers of English speaking doctors: