Universal coverage, no insurance cards, the farmacia culture — how healthcare works if you need it as a tourist.
Plan your Italy trip →Italy has a universal public healthcare system (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, SSN). All residents are covered. EU citizens with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/TEAM) receive emergency treatment at the same terms as Italians. Non-EU tourists should have travel insurance — emergency treatment is provided regardless, but you may be billed.
Emergency: Call 118 (ambulance) or go to Pronto Soccorso (Emergency Room) at any hospital. Treatment is prioritized by urgency (triage), not ability to pay. EU citizens with EHIC: free. Others: you'll receive treatment first, bill later. Non-emergency: See our visiting a doctor guide and pharmacy guide.
Italian pharmacists are essentially first-line healthcare providers. They can diagnose common ailments, recommend (and sell) medications that would require prescriptions in the US/UK, and provide basic medical advice. For minor issues (cold, stomach problems, minor injuries, allergies), the farmacia is your first stop — not a doctor. Green cross sign, open late, found in every town.
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