The “key actors” are:
- Azienda USL Toscana sud est is the Local Health Authority supplying standard medical assistance;
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese is the Siena General Hospital providing in-patient and outpatient treatments and specialized care
- Other General Hospitals available:
The Italian healthcare system is funded through direct taxation and is handled at a local level by the Local Health Authority (Azienda USL), italian citizens are required to make a co-payment (called “ticket”), for most of the specialized visits and to purchase medicines.
Services offered
- Emergencies and first aid:
- For medical advice out of office hours (after 8 p.m. and during the weekend) you can refer to the doctor on duty "Continuità assistenziale" dialling 116117
- In the case of a serious emergency or if you need an ambulance ambulance, dial the Emergency number 112
The Emergency Department at the General Hospitals is open 24 hours a day. A co-payment (“ticket”) may be required for clinical tests and instrumental diagnostics (x-ray, scans, etc)
- Youth Counseling (up to 26 years old)
In case of problems related to sexuality (unwanted pregnancy, contraception, etc.) or issues concerning depression, eating disorders, anxiety, relationships, etc: sedi e orari consultori provincia di Siena
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- Family doctor (General Practitioner)
A doctor you can refer to when:- you need general medical advice
- you need a medicine that pharmacies are allowed to sell only with a doctor’s prescription (called “impegnativa” or "prescrizione")
- you need to request a specialist visit or examination (blood tests, dermatologist’s visit, etc.)
Family doctors are only available during their office hours for more information visit Orari, indirizzi e numeri telefonici degli ambulatori dei Medici e Pediatri di famiglia
- Specialist visits or examinations (i.e. blood test, oculists,dermatologists, x-rays etc.)
You must first consult your family doctor. If needed, he/she will issue the prescription (“impegnativa” or "prescrizione") required for most of the treatments supplied by Azienda USL Toscana sud est.
To book visits or examinations:- Call the booking service (Centro Unico di Prenotazione) 0577 767676 (office hours Monday to Friday 8-18 Saturday 8.30-13)
- For blood tests: ZEROCODE
- Specialist visits or examinations: PRENOTA SANITÁ
Documents needed to access the Italian Healt care system
- European Union students
- If you are in possession of EU Health Insurance Card (“tessera sanitaria europea”) you can access the medical medical assistance in the same way as Italian citizens. You don’t need to register with the Italian Health Care System.
- If you possess a S1 form (issued by the Health Authority of your home country) you have access to medical medical care and will be assigned a specific family doctor. You first need to register with the Italian Health Care System. The registration is free
- UK Students
From 1 January 2021 healthcare cover is provided to students in possession of UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
You will only be able to use your EHIC in the country you are studying in and only while you continue studying there. This country is identified on your EHIC (field n°6) by an international country code (IT for Italy). - Extra-European students
- If you are in possession of a private medical insurance policy against illness and accident you can access medical care and specific specific treatments treatments or examinations examinations. You will be asked to pay the whole cost of specialized visits, blood tests, instrumental diagnostics etc. You have to keep all the receipts in order to ask for a reimbursement.
- You can register voluntarily with IHCS. The registration costs 700,00 Euro (if you have not received any income during the previous year).
The registration is valid for one calendar year(from the 1° of January to the 31° of December). You have the right to choose a family doctor and access health services paying the same “ticket” as Italian citiziens.
How to register
Send an email to "uffico assistenza estero":
Documents needed for registration
- EU students with S1 forms:
You will need to present the original form - Extra EU students:
You will be required to present the following documents- The receipt you got at the post office upon payment for voluntary registration (700,00 Euro);
- Your temporary residency permit (“permesso di soggiorno”) released by Local Police Authority (“Questura”)
For more informations
- Assistenza sanitaria a cittadini stranieri;
- call Ufficio Assistenza Estero 0577 535989;
- send an email to Email to
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