The quality and accessibility of healthcare in Rome reflect that of Italy as a whole. Both public and private healthcare options are available, and expats and locals often opt for a combination of the two.
Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) is the national health service and provides citizens and residents with free and low-cost healthcare. This is a great prospect, especially for expats from countries with high healthcare costs.
EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access state healthcare during a short-term visit. UK citizens can make use of their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC for UK citizens post Brexit.
While the quality of public healthcare services is generally good and doctors are usually highly trained and knowledgeable, the quality of treatment in public facilities is often undermined by an inefficient and underfunded bureaucracy. In addition, the level of comfort in the public healthcare sector tends to be lower than in the private sector, and waiting times are longer.
In addition to the public healthcare system in Italy, many centres offering private treatment are available all over the country, including Rome. These are often preferred by expats as private facilities offer the privacy and creature comforts that the public sector foregoes.
This comes with a hefty price tag, and those planning to make regular use of private doctors, clinics, and hospitals should be sure to obtain private health insurance to help them foot the bill.
In terms of over-the-counter and prescription medication, Rome is not short of 24-hour pharmacies. While there are few restrictions on what medications can be brought into the country, they should be kept in their original packaging where possible.
Below are some of the most popular hospitals in Rome.
Popular hospitals in Rome
Salvator Mundi International Hospital
Website: www.upmc.it/salvator-mundi
Address: Viale delle Mura Gianicolensi, 67, 00152 Rome
Rome American Hospital
Website: www.rah.it
Address: Via Emilio Longoni, 81, 00100 Rome
San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital
Website: www.hsangiovanni.roma.it
Address: Via dell’Amba Aradam, 8, 00184 Rome
Aurelia Hospital
Website: www.ghcspa.com/aureliahospital
Address: Via Aurelia, 860, 00165 Rome
International Medical Center '84
Website: www.imc84.com
Address: Via Silvio Pellico, 10, 00195 Rome