Ambulance transport is free in genuine emergencies. In some regions a ticket fee is charged if the Emergency Room assesses the case as non-urgent (white or low-green code). The amount varies by region.

Can I go to the Emergency Room without a health card?

Yes. The Emergency Room cannot refuse anyone. Foreign nationals without a residence permit (STP — Straniero Temporaneamente Presente) still receive urgent care and are not reported to the authorities. The STP code is issued by the ASL.

What does the out-of-hours GP do?

They examine you, issue SSN prescriptions, sick notes, and urgent test requests. They do not perform diagnostic tests (X-rays, ultrasounds). For complex problems they can send you to the Emergency Room or arrange admission.

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Easysalute

Available in:🇮🇹IT 🇬🇧EN

Out-of-hours GP and Emergency Room: when to go where

In Italy there are three levels of response to urgent health needs: 118 (serious emergencies), the Emergency Room (non-deferrable urgent cases) and the Out-of-Hours GP service or Continuità Assistenziale (non-urgent problems outside GP surgery hours). Choosing the right service reduces waiting times for everyone and ensures the most appropriate response to your situation.

Authority

ASL di competenza

Time

5 min

Updated

May 2026

What you need

✓Health card (for out-of-hours GP and non-urgent emergency room visits)
✓Identity document
✓Any existing medical documentation (reports, medication list)

Step-by-step procedure

Assess the urgency level

Emergency (call 118): loss of consciousness, chest pain radiating to arm, severe breathing difficulty, stroke (drooping face, arm weakness, slurred speech), major bleeding, serious accidents. Urgent (go to A&E): very high uncontrollable fever, fractures, deep cuts, sudden acute pain. Non-urgent (out-of-hours GP): moderate fever, cough, sore throat, flu, minor dressings, urgent prescriptions outside GP hours.

If in doubt, always call 118: the operator will guide you on what to do.

Out-of-Hours GP (Continuità Assistenziale)

Active when your GP is closed: evenings (from 8pm), nights, Saturday afternoons, Sundays and public holidays. You can go directly to the out-of-hours surgery (find it on your ASL website or by calling 116117) or call for a home visit if you cannot move. The service is free for SSN patients.

The European number 116117 is the single number for non-urgent out-of-hours medical care.

Emergency Room: the triage system

At the entrance a nurse assigns you a priority code: red (immediate, life-threatening), orange/yellow (urgent, max wait 15-30 min), green (not very urgent, wait 1-4 hours), white/blue (non-urgent, wait up to 8 hours or ticket fee). The white ticket equals the co-payment set by your region (usually €25-50). Arriving by ambulance does not shorten waiting times for non-urgent cases.

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Numero unico 116117

Ministero della Salute

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Frequently asked questions

Responsible authority

Authority

ASL di competenza

Phone

116117

Certified email

Website

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The information in this guide is for orientation only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always verify on the official portal of the responsible authority.