Health, Medicines & Insurance

No vaccinations are required to enter Italy.

To bring medicines into Italy a certificate issued by a doctor is required indicating that the medicine for personal use only (a translation into Italian is advisable).

A Reciprocal Agreement exists between Australia and Italy regarding Health Assistance, which covers Australian citizens (or a person who is permitted to reside indefinitely in Australia – people covered by Medicare), up to a period of six months from the date of entry into Italy.

The Italian Public Health Service provides, through local health centres, medical treatment to Australian visitors at hospitals and clinics that are part of the health service, or at authorised medical centres, upon presentation of their passport and possibly an Australian Medicare card.

It is important to remember that if you need to be admitted to hospitals urgently you should advise the hospital staff that you wish to be treated under the Australian-Italy Health Agreement.

There is no reciprocal agreement between New Zealand and Italy.

For further information on taking medicine you can contact:

• the “National Prescribing Service Medicines” on 1300 888 763 or
  
• Medicare on 1800 500 147 (travelling with PBS medicine).