Your French doctor in Italy, anywhere, anytime.

Medecin.it allows French speakers in Italy to consult a doctor in French, without having to find a local clinic or explain their symptoms in Italian. You can contact the service from your phone or computer. After describing your situation, you will be directed to an appropriate medical consultation. Depending on your symptoms, the doctor may advise you, issue a prescription where medically justified, or refer you to an in-person consultation, a specialist, or emergency services. Medecin.it is aimed at French tourists, expatriates, students, and professionals staying in Italy.

You can contact medecin.it online from anywhere in Italy. The service allows you to describe your medical problem in French and be connected with a doctor. Before the consultation, please prepare if possible a list of your symptoms, your usual treatments, your allergies, any useful photos or medical results, and the name and dosage of your current medications. In case of a serious symptom or life-threatening emergency, call 112 or 118 in Italy immediately.

Yes. A French tourist can consult a public or private doctor in Italy. You do not need to be an Italian resident to receive care. To access the Italian public health system under the same conditions as local patients, you can present your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It must be used with a doctor or facility belonging to the Italian National Health Service (SSN). Private consultations generally remain at the patient's expense, subject to possible reimbursement by your health insurance, supplementary insurance, or travel insurance.

A teleconsultation allows you to speak remotely with a doctor from your hotel, accommodation, workplace, or residence in Italy. You explain your symptoms and medical history. The doctor may ask follow-up questions and ask you to send a photo, a prescription, a test result, or a medical report. At the end of the assessment, the doctor may give you medical advice, suggest an appropriate treatment, issue a prescription where justified, recommend a test or in-person consultation, or refer you to a specialist or emergency services.

Medecin.it is accessible remotely throughout Italy, including from Rome, Milan, Turin, Florence, Venice, Bologna, Naples, Genoa, Verona, Pisa, Bari, Palermo, Catania, Sicily, Sardinia, the Italian lakes, and all major tourist destinations. You can also use the service from a small town, a rural area, or an Italian island, provided you have a sufficient phone or internet connection.

Medecin.it charges a clearly announced fee before the consultation. The standard fee is 49 euros. Medications, blood tests, X-rays, specialist consultations, and care provided at another facility are not included in the consultation price. An invoice can be provided to allow the patient to request reimbursement from their insurance or supplementary health cover.

To contact medecin.it, use the form or contact method indicated on the website. Please specify your name, age, the Italian city where you are located, your phone number, the nature of your medical problem, and how long you have had the symptoms. Immediately indicate if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, are taking an important medication, or have a drug allergy. For a serious emergency, contact 112 or 118 directly.

It is possible to request a consultation outside regular hours, subject to the doctor's availability. In Italy, patients can also contact the medical continuity service, traditionally called guardia medica. The European number 116117 provides access, in territories where it is operational, to non-urgent medical services. In the event of an urgent or potentially serious situation, call 112 or 118 rather than waiting for a clinic to open.

Many common medical problems can be assessed remotely, including: sore throat, cold, cough, or sinusitis; urinary symptoms or suspected cystitis; diarrhoea, nausea, or digestive issues; allergy, skin rash, or insect bites; conjunctivitis or eye irritation; migraine or recurring headache; back or muscle pain; renewal of certain regular treatments; a medical problem that arose during travel. The possibility of making a diagnosis or prescribing treatment always depends on the available information and the doctor's assessment.

An in-person consultation or urgent care may be necessary in cases of: chest pain, significant breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, sudden paralysis or speech disorder, severe allergic reaction, intense abdominal pain, serious trauma, heavy bleeding, major deterioration of general health, or serious symptoms in an infant. The doctor may also recommend a physical examination, a test, an X-ray, or a specialist consultation when the situation cannot be reliably assessed remotely.

Yes, a prescription can be issued following a teleconsultation when the doctor considers a medication necessary and the prescription can be made under satisfactory medical conditions. Issuing a prescription is never automatic. The doctor may decline a prescription if they consider the information insufficient, a clinical examination is essential, the requested medication is inappropriate, or there is a risk of contraindication or interaction.

In principle, a prescription issued by an authorised healthcare professional in an EU country can be used in another EU country, provided it contains the information necessary to identify the patient, the prescriber, and the medication. However, a medication may have a different trade name in Italy, be available in a different dosage or form, not be marketed in Italy, or be subject to particular dispensing rules. The final dispensing decision rests with the pharmacist, in accordance with Italian regulations.

Present the prescription to the pharmacist, on paper or in the authorised form that was sent to you. It is recommended to also have a form of identity, your European Health Insurance Card where relevant, the generic name of the medication, and a list of any allergies. Medications may have different trade names in France and Italy. The pharmacist can inform you if an Italian equivalent is available.

A doctor can assess a renewal request when you have forgotten, lost, or run out of your treatment during your stay. Please prepare a photo of the old prescription, the medication box, or any document that can confirm the medication name, dosage, frequency, reason for treatment, and the identity of the original prescribing doctor. Some medications cannot be renewed remotely, particularly when their prescription requires specific medical and biological monitoring.

Contact a doctor quickly, specifying the exact name of the medication, its dosage, and the condition for which it was prescribed. If possible, send an old prescription, a photo of the box, or a medical report. Some treatments must not be stopped abruptly, particularly anticoagulants, corticosteroids, antiepileptics, cardiac treatments, or certain psychiatric treatments. If in doubt, seek medical advice promptly.

The French Carte Vitale is not directly used by Italian healthcare professionals. For a temporary stay in Italy, the relevant document is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It allows access to medically necessary care provided by the Italian public health system, under the same conditions and at the same cost as for Italian insured persons. The EHIC may be physical or replaced, in an emergency, by a provisional certificate issued by your French health insurance body. It does not constitute comprehensive travel insurance.

Yes. A valid EHIC can be used in Italy to receive medically necessary care during a temporary stay. It must be presented to a doctor, a hospital, or a facility belonging to or contracted with the Italian National Health Service (SSN). Fees or co-payments may remain at your expense, as for Italian insured persons. The EHIC does not normally cover private care or repatriation.

A private consultation generally needs to be paid directly by the patient. You can then request reimbursement from your health insurance body, supplementary health cover, travel insurance, or the insurance linked to your bank card, depending on your contract terms. Keep the paid invoice, proof of payment, the prescription, the medical report, and pharmacy or examination invoices.

Yes. A personalised invoice can be issued after the consultation. It may include the patient's identity, the date of the consultation, the healthcare professional's identity, the amount paid, and the general nature of the service. Depending on the situation, a medical report or prescription may also be provided. It is advisable to check directly with your insurer which documents are required and within what timeframe they must be submitted.

Call 112 or 118 immediately in a serious situation, including: chest pain, major breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, suspected stroke, severe allergic reaction, serious accident, haemorrhage, convulsions, significant poisoning, or immediate danger to a person. 112 is the single European emergency number. 118 remains the Italian emergency medical and ambulance number. A teleconsultation must never delay calling for help when a life-threatening emergency is possible.