Healthcare in the Metropolitan City of Bologna: access to treatment for a healthcare system of excellence

The metropolitan area offers a high-quality, accessible, and widespread public healthcare system, thanks to the presence of leading facilities and services dedicated to citizens and new residents.

The metropolitan healthcare system includes some of Italy’s main centers of excellence. In the Bologna area, there are the Azienda USL of Bologna, the IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna - Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, the IRCCS Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, and the IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna.In the Imola area there are the Azienda USL of Imola and the Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute. The Institutes for Hospitalization and Care of a Scientific Nature (IRCCS) are nationally recognized centers of excellence that also carry out research.

The Azienda USL of Bologna covers 46 municipalities of the metropolitan area. It operates across the plains, the hills, the Apennines, including the urban district of the city of Bologna, with hospitals and an increasing number of Community Health Centers and outpatient clinics. In particular, the Community Health Centers include general practitioners, pediatricians, specialists, nurses, social workers, various professionals, volunteer associations, and the CAU – Emergency and Assistance Centers.

The Imola Healthcare Authority covers 10 municipalities and includes the Imola City Territorial Hub (Ospedale Vecchio), the Imola Hospital S. Maria della Scaletta, the Community Health Center, the Castel S. Pietro Terme Civil Hospital, the Community Health Center of Medicina, and the Community Health Center of the Santerno Valley.

Healthcare in the metropolitan area stands out for:

• high quality care and nationally competitive waiting times;
• collaboration between universities, research centers, and public healthcare, contributing to the continuous improvement of services;
• availability of services in foreign languages, thanks to dedicated help desks and multilingual support;
• strong investments in innovation and telemedicine.

Being part of the National Health Service (SSN) means having access to medical care, specialist visits, hospitals, and emergency rooms either free of charge or at a reduced cost.

The SSN guarantees universal and free access to urgent care, meaning treatments that cannot be postponed without immediate danger to life or serious harm to health.Free access to essential healthcare is granted to those registered  with the National Health Service.

Residents in Italy can register with the SSN free of charge.Foreign citizens (EU and non-EU) may be entitled to register based on different criteria (residency, employment contract, study, family reasons, etc.).

Registration grants the same services available to Italian citizens, including:

• a general practitioner;
• free hospitalization in public and affiliated hospitals;
• pharmaceutical assistance;
• general medical visits in outpatient clinics;
• specialist medical visits;
• home medical visits;
• vaccinations;
• blood tests;
• X-rays;
• ultrasounds;
• medications;
• rehabilitation and prosthetic assistance;
• other services included in the essential levels of care

European Union citizen can register with the national health service if staying in Italy for more than three months and are in one of the following documented conditions:

• worker or family member of a worker;
• family member of an Italian citizen;
• holding a municipal certificate of residence in Italy for at least 5 years;
• in a state of involuntary unemployment and registered with the Employment Center or enrolled in a vocational training course;
• holder of EU form E106, E109 (or E37), E120, E121 (or E33).

EU citizens residing in Emilia-Romagna who do not fall under any of the previous cases can voluntarily register with the National Health Service by paying a contribution. Registration is valid for one year, from January 1 to December 31, cannot be split, and has no retroactive effect.

Non-EU citizen with a valid residence permit for specific reasons, or waiting for the issuance or renewal of a residence permit, can register with the National Health Service. The duration of registration is linked to the validity of the residence permit and is renewable.

Registration, depending on the type of residence permit requested, can be mandatory (thus free of charge) or voluntary (thus paid).

All non-EU foreign citizens are entitled to mandatory registration with the National Health Service (SSN) if:

• Legally residing in Italy and have ongoing regular employment (subordinate or self-employed) or are listed in the employment registers;
• Legally residing and renewing a residence permit for:
  • subordinate or self-employment, family reasons, asylum, subsidiary protection, special cases, special protection, medical treatment, asylum application, awaiting adoption, foster care, or acquisition of citizenship;
  • awaiting the first issuance of a residence permit for subordinate work or family reasons.