In my region, the public service number to book an appointment (with a family doctor’s prescription) is called CUP (Unique Booking Centre), and the number is 06 9939. You can also book through the official website, ReCup. With this number or website, you can theoretically book a specialist appointment at a public hospital or clinics that have agreements with the Italian National Health Service.
How is free healthcare in Italy?
It’s great to have “free” healthcare (though it’s not truly free, as you pay social security and a co-payment called a “ticket.” This co-payment has increased over the years, but it’s still affordable for most people).
All of this sounds good, but (there’s always a but!). The system is under pressure because the demand for specialist examinations is rising due to screenings, routine check-ups, and, importantly, an aging population (one of the oldest in Europe) and migration. Pensions and healthcare are the top two state budget expenses: healthcare is about 134.7 billion euros, and combined, they represent approximately 30.5% of the GDP (source: ISTAT National Institute of Statistics).
What used to be a reasonable waiting list (within 3 months) is now often longer, sometimes reaching 6 months or more. Some services can have wait times beyond half a year. I recently called, and the earliest available appointment was in October—7 months away!
Some people can wait, but others can’t and are forced to go to a private hospital or clinic, paying the full price.
Long waiting list for an Examination. What to do?
The government is aware of this issue and has reached an agreement with the regions (since healthcare in Italy is provided regionally, though you’re covered nationwide). They’ve established categories based on urgency: A – 30 days, B – 60 days, C – 180 days, D – 12 months.
Also, due to the workload, these appointments are often quick (15-20 minutes), affecting the overall service quality.
Again, public healthcare is great, but for non-urgent issues, people who pay social security often look elsewhere and book private appointments. As I mentioned, the government knows the situation (which varies by region; Lazio, my region, seems particularly strained and is not improving). So, they came up with a “brilliant” idea (a compromise).
How to skip long queues in public hospitals in Italy (for an affordable price)
The third option is “privato sociale” (social private) at a public hospital. Doctors in public hospitals can do semi-private appointments in public buildings outside their regular hours, charging more than a public visit but about half (60 euros) of a private practitioner’s fee (usually around 120-150 euros or more, depending on the specialty and necessary equipment).
With this option, you can usually book within a week or two.
You can also choose a closer hospital. Not only are long waiting lists a problem, but sometimes the closest available appointment requires traveling across the city, which is difficult without a car or with traffic. People have even had to travel to other cities or towns for faster appointments than in Rome.
This “privato sociale” is becoming the main option for those without private health insurance (often employer-paid, which isn’t common here). After all, why pay for insurance when you pay for public healthcare through social security?
Finally, some official documents require the public system (e.g., a person with a disability needing a public hospital prescription for free devices).
So my dear expat friends residing in Italy, I hope this “privato sociale” option is helpful for you and foreigners who might not know about it. It’s a good compromise between long waits and high private fees.