Your family doctor may suggest a specialist, but you can also choose your own. If you require specialist medical attention and want to take advantage of social security benefits, you must take your doctor's referral with you when you attend your appointment.
Richiesta tessera sanitaria free#
House calls made by family doctors are free during normal working hours. If you want a doctor to visit you at home, you must telephone during surgery hours. He then writes a referral ( impegnativa), which you must take with you if you wish to be claim social security benefits. If he thinks that you need to see a specialist, he will refer you to one who's registered with social security. He will arrange for you to have any necessary laboratory tests or X-rays at an authorised medical centre. Your family doctor will diagnose your problem and may write out a prescription ( ricetta) for you to take to the chemist. Appointments aren't usually required and most surgeries operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's recommended to arrive early to avoid a long wait. (It's important to keep all medical receipts, as these can be offset against your income tax bill.)ĭoctors' surgery hours vary, although surgeries are usually open from 8 to 10am and from 3 to 5pm, or there's one surgery only from 8am to 1pm, Mondays to Fridays only. Note that you're normally expected to settle the bill in cash immediately after treatment, even if you have health insurance.
Richiesta tessera sanitaria registration#
To see a private doctor or specialist, you may need to pay an initial registration fee (around â‚?2) plus a fee for each visit, which may be anything from â‚?0 to â‚?60.
Unless you know exactly what the problem is, however, it's wise to see your family doctor first. In Italy, many family doctors who work for the national health service also work privately as specialists, and it's quite common for family doctors to suggest that you see them privately for specialist treatment in this case, you will normally visit them at their private surgery ( studio medico), which may be separate from their state practice. This means that you have total freedom of choice and can obtain a second opinion, should you so wish. You can make an appointment to see a private doctor, specialist or consultant at any time, provided you don't mind paying for their services. For a list of group surgeries and hospitals in your area, contact your local health authority. These may include allergology, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic treatment, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, radiology, sports medicine, surgery, and urology. Group practices can be either state, operating within an Azienda Sanita' Locale (ASL) building, or private, and they offer a range of specialities usually unavailable at doctors' surgeries. In addition to single private practices, family doctors also practise in group surgeries known as poliambulatori. Each member of your family is issued with a national health number and a health card ( tessera sanitaria), which you must take with you when visiting a doctor or other health practitioner. Local health authorities provide you with a list of doctors with whom you can register and you can choose any doctor who's willing to accept you (there's no requirement to register with a doctor within a certain distance of your home). When registering, you're required to choose a family doctor with a social security agreement ( medico convenzionato) and, if you have children aged under six, a paediatrician ( pediatra) also. If you wish to take advantage of the national health service, you must register with the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (see Registration above). Note that the word dottore is a courtesy title used to address any university graduate. Ostetrica e Ginecologia (obstetricians and gynaecologists). General practitioners or family doctors ( medici generici) are listed in yellow pages under Medici Generici, and specialists under Specialisti and their speciality e.g. If you live in Milan, the International Health Center (( 02-720 040 80) has a number of English-speaking medical specialists. Embassies and consulates in Italy keep lists of doctors and specialists in their area who speak English and other languages, and your employer, colleagues or neighbours may also be able to recommend someone.
Not surprisingly, however, it's difficult to find English-speaking doctors in some areas of Italy, although most cities and resorts have a medical service for tourists ( guardia medica turistica) with English-speaking staff. Italy has the highest number of doctors ( medici) per head of any country in the world (one for every 160 inhabitants), and they're generally well trained and professional.
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