Medical Emergencies and Seeing Doctors in Rome: What to Do and Where to Get Help

Wondering what to do if you have a medical emergency while in Rome, or needing to know how to get medical treatment from doctors in Rome?

Find everything you need to know on this page!

How to see a medical professional in Rome Italy - Everything you need to know

Don't panic if you don't know what to do if you have an emergency when in Rome.

Not many visitors do!

Knowing what to do in the case of an emergency – health or otherwise – while visiting anywhere is fundamental to feeling at ease on your travels.

On this page we'll be talking about:

• What to do in an emergency during your trip in Italy
• How to see a Rome doctor
• Dealing with minor health concerns
• Why it's important to have good health insurance
• Some useful phrases to know when you need medical treatment in Rome

What to do in an emergency during your trip to Italy

First things first, if you find yourself in an emergency situation and cannot see a professional nearby who can help (such as a police officer) you should call 112.

You do not need to add a country code when dialing from within Italy or Europe, and you will then be evaluated and then routed to the right department according to your situation.

The emergency services in Italy operate and are structured like most of the English-speaking world and western Europe.

You have the health services (paramedics, ambulances), the fire services, and the police assistance.

For Medical Emergencies:

If you know that you require emergency or immediate medical help, dial 118 (no dialing code) where the operator will ask you to describe your situation.

At this point you can ask if they speak English, and if they cannot, they will connect you with someone who can.

The operator will assign you a color based on your circumstances.

White (bianco) for anything non-critical, green (verde) for non-urgent matters, yellow (giallo) for critical/urgent things or red (rosso) for emergencies requiring immediate attention or that are deemed as life threatening.

The operator will then request the relevant assistance which will be dispatched to your location accordingly.

Another option for urgent care is to get to your nearest Pronto Soccorso, the Italian equivalent to an ER/Emergency Room/Accident and Emergency.

Use Google Maps to find your nearest location.

On arrival at the Pronto Soccorso describe your situation in clear and plain English and the professionals will then assist you accordingly.

Other emergency numbers you should know:

• 113 for Police assistance
• 115 for the Fire Brigade

How to see a doctor in Rome

If you do not need emergency help but need to visit a doctor in Rome it is much easier than you might think.

Keep reading to find out which specific clinic in Rome I recommend!

There are several English-speaking clinics in the city center which can offer assistance to visitors as well as short- and long-term residents.

At these clinics you can:

• Request assistance with prescriptions – both one-time and ongoing
• Test for, and treat illnesses/conditions including COVID-19 and sexually transmitted diseases
• Talk to medical professionals about gynecological matters
• Consult a professional on any dermatological questions you may have
• Undertake blood tests where the cost can often be cheaper compared to the same procedures in other countries.
• Address simple and non-critical injuries such as sprains resulting from trips and falls. Clinics will more often than not undertake X-rays as part of orthopedic inquiries.
• Receive aesthetic medicine and certain cosmetic procedures
• Request general medical advice and more

The cost of assistance depends on what you need, and many clinics will work with your health insurer.

If you are concerned about the cost of assistance or have questions related to insurance, speak to the clinic before confirming an appointment.

My recommended clinic for high quality care in Rome

For high quality care that is not an emergency I would recommend using the FirstMed clinic in Rome.

Their clinic can be found at Via Giovanni Battista Morgagni 30/H in the center of Rome.

It is very close to the Policlinico metro stop on Metro B (the blue line) making getting here extremely easy.

From Termini station it will take you less than 15 minutes to get there.

FirstMed offer a full range of services including everything outlined above, as well as:

• Annual health checkups
• Cardiology services
• COVID-19 testing
• Flu vaccinations
• Medical certificates for Italian residents
• Pediatric and family health consultations

To schedule an appointment you can contact this number via WhatsApp:

(+39) 338 312 63 31

Alternatively you can book online here.

They also have a 24/7 hotline which can be reached on (+39) 06 40 06 14 02

Dealing with minor health concerns

If you are looking to address a minor health issue or need first aid, such as light sunburn/sunstroke, a common cold/flu, small insect bites or anything else day-to-day, head to a pharmacy.

Note that pharmacies in Italy cannot refill prescriptions and cannot prescribe antibiotics or more advanced medicines.

For these you will need to see a doctor first.

Pharmacies in Italy are easy to spot as almost all of them have a bright green cross sign outside, often illuminated with led lights.

Italian pharmacies offer a broad range of products either directly off the shelf, or can dispense more specialist products over the counter following a chat with the pharmacist.

From my own experience, pharmacies in popular tourist areas can be very busy, and the queues move slow as the professionals are thorough in providing the right care.

Be patient and you will get the help you need!

Unlike in other countries you should note that in Italy most grocery stores/supermarkets will only have a very small selection of health-related products and cannot be relied on to address your issues.

Why it's important to have good health insurance cover 

In the event of a critical emergency, you will not be required to make payment up front to receive medical assistance.

Health insurance will help cover any costs charged at a later date (and may even completely cover emergency care costs, depending on the level of coverage you have).

Italian residents are enrolled in the national health service and use their tessera sanitaria to access services.

Like most national health services, sometimes there can be a wait for appointments, and Italian residents (like myself) will sometimes opt for private assistance through clinics like FirstMed.

This has the benefit of greater availability and flexibility with appointments, and the guarantee that the professional you see will speak fluent English.

Most clinics work with the big names in health insurance cover, FirstMed for instance works with over 30 global insurers and will aid you in completing all of the necessary paperwork following assistance.  

Some useful phrases to know when you need medical assistance in Rome

Most professionals in the emergency and health services in Italy will speak at least some English, and in recent years it has become a requirement for some professions and specialisms.

However, you may find yourself in a situation where there is not a professional immediately available and you don't have someone nearby who speaks English.

To summarize:

If you need immediate help, dial 112 with no international dialing code or head to the nearest hospital emergency room to get help from the doctors and nurses there.

If you don’t need urgent care, consider contacting FirstMed in Rome whose English-speaking doctors are there to help you.