Italian healthcare has its own terminology and administrative logic. English is spoken by many younger medical professionals, particularly at Checkpoints and university hospitals, but knowing the Italian terms helps you navigate paperwork, signs, and regions where English is less common.
The System: Key Concepts
SSN — Servizio Sanitario Nazionale. Italy's National Health Service. Free at point of use for residents, with some co-pays (ticket).
ASL — Azienda Sanitaria Locale. Local Health Authority. Your regional healthcare administrator. Every Italian region has multiple ASL units.
Medico di base / Medico curante — Your assigned GP / family doctor. The first point of contact in the public system. Can issue prescriptions (impegnative) for specialist referrals.
Tessera Sanitaria — Health card. Your SSN registration card, containing your codice fiscale (tax code). Required for accessing SSN services.
Codice Fiscale — Tax identification code. Used as your primary identifier in the healthcare system. EU residents can obtain this.
EHIC / TEAM — European Health Insurance Card (called TEAM in Italian). EU citizens can use this for medically necessary care in Italy at SSN rates.
Impegnativa — The prescription/referral slip from your GP for specialist visits or tests. Sometimes called a "ricetta rossa" (red prescription). Required to book via CUP.
CUP — Centro Unico Prenotazioni. The centralised booking system for specialist appointments. You call your ASL's CUP with an impegnativa to book.
Ticket — The co-pay you pay for outpatient services, specialist visits, and tests. Amount varies by region and whether you have an exemption (esenzione). For income-based or HIV-related exemptions, ask your medico di base.
Pronto Soccorso — Emergency room. Open 24/7. For PEP, go here.
Malattie Infettive — Infectious Diseases department/unit. Where PrEP is prescribed and HIV treatment is managed.
Farmacia Ospedaliera — Hospital pharmacy. Where free PrEP is dispensed (not a regular pharmacy).
Appointments and Administration
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Prenotare | To book an appointment |
| Appuntamento / Visita | Appointment |
| Impegnativa | Referral/prescription for specialist |
| Lista d'attesa | Waiting list |
| Sala d'attesa | Waiting room |
| Esenzione | Exemption from ticket |
| Ricetta | Prescription (for medication) |
| Farmacia | Pharmacy |
| Privato / In regime privato | Private (not SSN covered) |
Useful phrases:
"Parlo un po' italiano — parla inglese?" — I speak a little Italian — do you speak English? "Ho la tessera EHIC." — I have the EHIC card. "Sono qui per la prima volta." — This is my first time here. "Ho bisogno di un'impegnativa per..." — I need a referral for...
Sexual Health and Testing
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Malattie sessualmente trasmissibili (MST) / Infezioni sessualmente trasmissibili (IST) | Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) |
| Test HIV | HIV test |
| Sifilide | Syphilis |
| Gonorrea | Gonorrhoea |
| Clamidia | Chlamydia |
| Tampone | Swab |
| Tampone faringeo | Throat swab |
| Tampone rettale | Rectal swab |
| Tampone uretrale | Urethral swab |
| Esame del sangue | Blood test |
| Esame delle urine | Urine test |
| Risultato | Result |
| Positivo / Negativo | Positive / Negative |
Asking for a full STI panel:
"Vorrei fare un test completo per le IST — tampone faringeo, rettale e uretrale, più gli esami del sangue." (I'd like a complete STI test — throat, rectal, and urethral swab, plus blood tests.)
At a Checkpoint: just ask for "il pannello completo" — they know what this means.
HIV, PrEP, and PEP
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| PrEP (Profilassi Pre-Esposizione) | PrEP |
| PPE / PEP (Profilassi Post-Esposizione) | PEP |
| HIV positivo / negativo | HIV positive / negative |
| Non rilevabile / Carica virale non rilevabile | Undetectable viral load |
| Carica virale | Viral load |
| Linfociti T CD4 | CD4 count |
| Terapia antiretrovirale (TAR) / ART | Antiretroviral therapy |
| Infettivologo | Infectious disease specialist |
| Centro di Malattie Infettive | Infectious diseases centre |
Requesting PEP at Pronto Soccorso:
"Ho avuto un rapporto a rischio HIV nelle ultime 72 ore. Ho bisogno della Profilassi Post-Esposizione (PPE)." (I had an HIV-risk exposure in the last 72 hours. I need post-exposure prophylaxis — PEP.)
Vaccines
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Vaccino | Vaccine |
| Vaccinazione | Vaccination |
| Centro Vaccinale | Vaccination centre |
| Epatite A / B | Hepatitis A / B |
| HPV (Papillomavirus Umano) | HPV vaccine |
| Vaiolo delle scimmie / Mpox | Mpox |
| Categoria a rischio | Risk group (for subsidised access) |
In an Emergency
Emergency numbers:
- 112 — General emergency (English-speaking operators)
- 118 — Ambulance (Pronto Soccorso ambulance)
- 113 — Police
Signs to look for:
- Pronto Soccorso — Emergency room entrance
- Triage — Where you check in
- Malattie Infettive — Infectious diseases ward (on hospital maps)
"Aiuto!" — Help! "Chiamate un'ambulanza!" — Call an ambulance! "Mi sento male." — I feel unwell. "Ho preso una sostanza." — I have taken a substance.