The National Health system
Registration:
You will need to go to your local Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) with the following documents:
- copy of residence permit/permesso do soggiorno
-declaration of residence
-copy of codice fiscale
Once you have your tessera sanitaria/health card from the ASL, you can choose your family doctor from a list provided by the ASL. Until 14 years of age, children are seen by a pediatrician. Under some circumstances children may be looked after by a pediatrician until they are 16. Some of these pediatricians speak 1 or more foreign languages. You may request a home visit during normal working hours, if you are unable to go to the doctor. To see a specialist, and to do diagnostic tests you will need a referral from your family doctor. There is a fixed charge (c.d ticket) for appointments, prescription drugs, and diagnostic tests with certain exceptions. Tests in pregnancy, tests for the detection of tumours and tests done in connection with organ or blood donation.
Medical certificates
Your doctor can certify your fitness or unfitness for work, your need for time off to look after your child, and your fitness for non-competitive sport at school. Certificates for insurance purposes, for determination of invalidity and
for fitness to participate in competitive and school sports are charged for according to a fixed tariff.
Here you can find a complete list of national health service doctors (general practitioners)/medici di base.
You can find a complete list of national health service pediatricians practicing in the Province of Varese.
Out of hours (20.00 until 8.00 weekdays, weekends and public holidays) cover is provided by family doctors and pediatricians. You can contact your local service by calling these telephone numbers. You should be ready to give your personal details (name, address etc.) and to describe the medical problem. Depending on the problem you may get advice over the telephone, you may be asked to go in for an evaluation or you may get a home visit.
Here is a list of out of hours pharmacies. It's kept updated by the ASL. Most provide 24 cover, some are only open until 21.00.
Where to go for immunizations/le vaccinazioni
Shortly after your child is born your local ASL should be in touch with information on the immunisation programme. If your child was born outside Italy, and you wish to be notified for immunisations, you will need to register him/her with the ASL. Most immunizations can be done free at Centri vaccinali and at Consultori pediatrici. The tetanus, diptheria, polio, hepatitis B vaccinations are required.
Your family doctor or pediatrician can also do the immunisations. In this case you will have to register the information for each immunization at the Centro Vaccinale of your ASL. This is called il certificato dell’avvenuta vaccinazione.
Before your child is immunised you will be asked about their state of health and other factors which could contraindicate a vaccination.
Before a non-obligatory vaccine you will be asked to sign a consent form (informed consent/consenso informato) to ensure you have been informed of the risks attached to the illness which the vaccine is supposed to prevent, and of the risks and benefits of the vaccination.
You can ask for the latest information about the vaccine. Sometimes there is information for children (Ape vaccinella).
Counselling Services
The public health system in Italy provides families with free access to counsellors within the consultori.
Throughout the Province of Varese, in every ASL Consultori Familiari provide free direct acess to psychologists, social and health workers. The Consultorio provides psychological, medical, and social assistance related to issues of sexuality, birth control, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, family, women's and children's health. There is no need for a referral from a doctor.
This site has a list of professionals offering mental health services in English, including psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counsellors.
Abortion
Abortions are allowed up to 90 days after conception, and are carried out after counselling and a waiting period, by consenting doctors. After the 90 days abortions may be done if there is serious malformation or if the mother's life or mental health are at risk. You can go to your ASL, to a consultori or to your doctor for information.
