Right to health for foreigners: how it works in Italy

In Italy, the Constitution, in compliance with the principles of equality and social justice, has recognized the right to health as a fundamental right of the individual.

Article. 32 of the Constitution, says: “The Republic protects health as a fundamental right of the individual and the interest of the community, and guarantees free treatment to the indigent. No one can be obliged to a specific health treatment except by law. The law can not under any circumstances violate the limits imposed by respect for the human person “.

The Italian Constitution does not limit the guarantee of the right to health to citizens or residents, but extends it to all individuals, thus affirming the right to health for migrants.

If you come from non-EU countries and you already have a regular residence permit, you must register at the SSN (National Health Service). To register, simply go to the Ufficio Anagrafe of the Local Health.

In Umbria, you can register at :

Distretto Città di Castello

Sportello Accettazione Punto Prelievi dell’Ospedale di Città di Castello – Via Luigi Angelini n. 10 – 06012 Città di Castello (PG)

Distretto Gubbio – Gualdo Tadino

Sportello CUP dell’Ospedale di Gubbio-Gualdo Tadino – Largo Unità d’Italia n. 1- Loc. Branca – 06024 Gubbio (PG)

Distretto del Trasimeno

Punto di Erogazione di Panicale – Viale Belvedere n.  2  – 06064 Panicale (PG)

Distretto del Perugino

Poliambulatorio Europa – Piazzale Europa – 06100 Perugia (PG)

Distretto Assisano

Centro  di Salute S. Maria degli Angeli – Assisi – Ufficio Back-office Anagrafe – Piano Terra –  Via S. Bernardino da Siena n. 116 –  06081 Santa Maria degli Angeli, Assisi (PG)

Distretto media valle del Tevere

Casa della Salute di Marsciano (Ex Ospedale) 2° Piano,  Ufficio Back Office CUP-   Anagrafe – Via Piccolotti e Corneli – 06055 Marsciano (PG)

Distretto Sanitario n° 1 Valnerina

Sportello anagrafe presso Palazzo Accica, Via Cavour – 06046 Norcia (PG)

Distretto Sanitario n° 2  Spoleto

Sportello anagrafe presso Palazzina Micheli, Piazza Dante Perilli n. 1- 06049 Spoleto (PG)

Distretto Sanitario n° 3  Foligno

Sportello anagrafe presso Poliambulatori distrettuali, Via dell’ospedale – 06034 Foligno (PG)

Terni

Sportello Anagrafe Assistiti – Terni – scala D – 1  piano, Via Bramante n. 35 – 05100 Terni (TR);

URP Terni – Via Bramante n. 37 – piano terra adiacente CUP Aziendale – 05100 Terni (TR);

Amelia

Centro di Salute n. 1 – Amelia – Via 1  Maggio n. 21 – 05022 Amelia (TR);

Narni

Centro di Salute n. 2 – Narni Scalo – Via Tuderte n. 12 – 05035 Narni (TR)

Orvieto

Sportello  Anagrafe Assistiti – c/o Ospedale di Orvieto “S. Maria della Stella” – piano terra – Loc. Ciconia – 05018 Orvieto (TR)

Foreigners who have the obligation to register with the national health service are:

–        regular foreigners with subordinate employment or self-employment

–        foreigners who have requested the renewal of the residence permit, for political asylum, for humanitarian asylum and dependent family members are included.

An annual fee must be paid for enrollment in the national health service.

Registration can also be requested:

1.  by foreigners residing in Italy who hold a residence permit for study purposes;
2.  by foreigners legally residing on an equal basis.

The effectiveness of the national health service ends with the non-renewal, revocation or cancellation of the residence permit or for expulsion. In these cases it is the police station that informs the ASL of the loss of the residence permit for the foreigner.

Health care means having the opportunity to consult a doctor, make analyzes and receive treatment. In Italy, health care is also guaranteed for non-regular non-EU citizens, so those who can not enroll in the National Health Service are provided with outpatient and hospital treatment.

In fact, they are mainly guaranteed:

– the social protection of pregnancy and motherhood,

– vaccinations

– prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and eventually reclamation of related outbreaks.

These services are provided free of charge.

Access to health facilities by foreigners not in compliance with the rules on residence does not involve any report to the police, no complaint.

As a consequence, the foreigner who does not comply with the rules regarding entry and stay, has the right to urgent or essential hospital and hospital treatment, even if it is ongoing, due to illness and accident, in the private public institutions.

The latter can request a card called STP (Temporarily Present Foreigner) from any ASL.

With the STP code the foreigner has the right to basic health care, to urgent and non-emergency admissions, to day hospital admissions , to outpatient and hospital treatment, urgent or essential, even if continuous, due to illness or injury.

Leaflet with information