Getting a positive result can be stressful, but the Italian public health system (SSN) is well-equipped to handle STI treatments, and the process is straightforward.
Getting Treatment
If you receive a positive result through a community testing center (a Checkpoint), the staff will usually guide you directly to an affiliated Malattie Infettive (Infectious Diseases) clinic or an STI center. They handle the referral process, making the transition to treatment smooth.
If you tested through a private lab or a general practitioner (Medico di Base), you will typically need an impegnativa (a red or electronic referral prescription) to access a public STI clinic. Treatment and specialist visits are generally covered by the SSN, though you may need to pay a ticket (a standard co-pay) depending on your income bracket and exemption status. In practice a specialist ticket rarely exceeds €50 (a unified national tariff standardised these charges across regions from 2025), and if you are on a low income, unemployed, or hold an exemption you pay nothing. HIV-related care is separately exempt under code 020 (see the Living with HIV guide).
Pharmacies and Prescriptions
For bacterial STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis, you will likely be prescribed antibiotics. Take your prescription to any local pharmacy (farmacia). If it is an SSN-prescribed drug on a formal public prescription, you will only pay the regional ticket fee. If a private doctor writes it on a "white script" (ricetta bianca), you will pay the full market price out of pocket.
Telling Your Partners
Partner notification is strongly encouraged to break the chain of transmission. If you feel uncomfortable doing this yourself, ask the clinic staff—many STI centers have protocols or partner-notification tools to help inform your previous sexual contacts anonymously.
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