This is my experience at the children hospital in Rome.
This section of the forum will be dedicated to our members personal experience with Hospital and the MEdical system in Italy. Suggestions for future expats are very welcome.

In July 2006, my six year old son got sick while I was on vacation. Instead of going to a doctor ( It is also hard to get an appointment right away with a pediatirc doctor if you are just there on vacation) I took him to the emergency room at Bambin Gesu' hospital located on the Gianicolo hill in Rome. The doctors treated him right away. The admittance was immediate and courteous. Excellent service and free of any charge. I must say that when I went to the children hospital in DC 3 years ago I was shocked that the food the Hospital was serving in its cafeteria was junk: Fried chicken and burgers ... ouch ! –

Anyway I have free health care since I am Italian – You will be a foreigner living in Italy : Please check on the Hospital website here
http://www.ospedalebambinogesu.it/po...sp?iditem=2440
It seems that you will have all the rights as an Italian Citizen as long as you will have a work permit / residency in Italy

Where we are, in a small village, we have had pretty much the same experience as Paolo - several years ago whilst on holiday here (before we were resident), our eldest son was ill, and we managed to get an appointment with my wife's family doctor. All treatment and medicines were given free, even though we asked to pay (especially in view of the fact that we were seen almost immediatley), but no money was accepted.

Perhaps this was because my parents-in-law (and their parents) have been patients for many years, or maybe just the well documented Italian love of children. Either way, I cannot fault the medical treatment over here, even compared to the British NHS, which is excellent and free - the Italian system seems very good. Dental treatment??? - now that's another thread..................

When I needed to see a doctor in Rome, (non-emergency) I was able to get an appointment rather quickly and with English-speaking doctors. I only had catastrophic insurance so paid out-of-pocket. The fees I thought were reasonable, about $135 for an office visit, though free would have been even better.

Martha - $135 sounds pretty catostrophic to me! Don't, though, whatever you do, lose crowns, fillings etc., without full insurance.

My wife (fully registered, Italian citizen/resident) lost a crown, and it will cost us 1100 euro total (including the initial 150 euro emergency treatment fee). The maximum apparently payable for dental treatment (I guess for any one problem) is 1000 euro (must exclude the initial emergency repair) - the Dentista told us this, backed up by a copy of an official looking form. However, this is only applicable until June 2008 - presumably it will increase after then.

General advice (especially for UK expats) on medical matters :-

Whilst virtually everything available in the UK is available in Italy, nearly all, if not all, medicines, are only available from the pharmacy - Paracetomal, Aspirin, Analgesics etc. etc. are not products you can get in the supermarket, and are consequently more expensive, and more inconvenient, to buy here.

Of the few things we will bring back from the UK when we go back there are Paracetomal, odds and sods of "over the counter" medicines, and tea bags (the Italian Co-Op English Breakfast ones are fine, but expensive for UK consumption!!).

Hi Markymark,

You're right about il dentista. I went to see one shortly before I was to return to the U.S. I take really good care of my teeth, but went for a cleaning. He said I needed something like 950 euros worth of work. I politely declined, waiting to get insurance when I got back to U.S. That was a few years ago and I've still not needed any work done other than cleaning and x-rays.
Martha

Hi ,

Pls Can u help me finding sum answers....
1) What is the Basic Salary of aegistered Nurse with 10 yrs work Experience...
2)Rent one room set in Rome and Milan..

Regards,

Meenu

I depends on which hospital you are supposed to work, if it's private or public. In a public hospital the salary should be around 1,000 euros. The rental of a furnished room must be between 350 and 500 euros, it depends on city area and how wide it is.