Every resident enrolled in the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale is entitled to a general practitioner in Italy, locally called medico di base. This family doctor is free at the point of service and controls access to specialist care. Understanding the medico di base’s duties, appointment rules and paperwork helps foreign residents navigate daily healthcare with confidence.
Contents
Role and Responsibilities of the Medico di Base
Italian law assigns a GP to each patient for primary care, chronic disease management and preventive screening. The doctor keeps your electronic dossier, issues prescriptions and referrals, and provides sick leave certificates (certificato di malattia) for employers. Office hours must cover at least fifteen hours a week; urgent home visits are available for immobility or severe illness.
How to Register with a GP
Registration happens at the ASL desk after you enrol in the National Health Service. Bring identity documents, fiscal code and residence proof. The clerk shows a list of available doctors within your municipio; you choose based on proximity, language skills or patient limit (<1,500). Keep the confirmation print‑out until your tessera sanitaria card arrives.
Bullet list one • documents the ASL officer will request
• Passport or EU ID and codice fiscale
• Residence certificate or hospitality declaration
• Permesso di soggiorno for non‑EU citizens
• Tessera sanitaria if you are changing GP rather than first registration
Booking Appointments and Costs
Consultations are free. Some regions allow online booking through the CUP portal; others require phone calls during office hours. Waiting times range from same‑day to three days for non‑urgent visits. Prescriptions are transmitted electronically to pharmacies, and referral forms (impegnative) must be stamped before specialist booking.
Services Provided Directly
The medico di base offers routine physicals, ECG readings, flu shots and basic wound care. For blood tests or X‑rays you receive a referral to public facilities or accredited clinics. Remember that ticket copays apply only to the diagnostic service, not to the GP visit itself.
Bullet list two • when to see the GP versus going straight to the ER
• Fever, mild infections and medication renewals → GP first
• Chest pain, severe trauma or loss of consciousness → call 118 or visit ER immediately
Changing Your Doctor
You may switch once a year without justification by returning to the ASL. Moves to another comune require a new doctor choice. If your GP retires, the ASL assigns a temporary replacement until you select a new physician.
GP and Private Insurance Integration
Private health policies often reimburse ticket copays and allow direct specialist access, yet insurers still ask for the GP referral to validate claims. When comparing plans, note whether they cover libero professionista visits outside the public tariff.
Linking the medical home concept to personal choice, our article How to Choose a Family Doctor in Italy offers practical tips on evaluating language skills, patient load and online booking options before you commit.
