What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Bologna?
Emergency number
112
Police: 113. Ambulance: 118.
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: impatria.com, expatexchange.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- 112 is the single number to remember in Bologna and works free from any phone, even with no SIM or credit — the operator will route you to police, fire, or ambulance as needed.
- 112 operators can connect you to an interpreter, so you don't need to speak Italian; starting with 'Do you speak English?' works fine.
- The older direct numbers (113 police, 115 fire, 118 medical) still work in Bologna and across Italy even though 112 is now the recommended default.
- Downloading the 'Where ARE U' app before you need it is worthwhile — it sends your exact location automatically and has a silent/text option if you can't safely speak on a call.
- For any life-threatening emergency in Bologna, dial 118 (or the EU-wide 112) for an ambulance rather than trying to get to a hospital yourself.
- Ospedale Maggiore is the city's actual designated Trauma Center for major/multi-trauma cases, so ambulances will generally route serious accident victims there.
- Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli's emergency room is orthopedic-only and closes at 19:30 — it is not a general ER option, especially at night.
- Sant'Orsola-Malpighi is a huge multi-building campus; if going by taxi or on your own, specify the exact pavilion (e.g. Via Albertoni 10 for the general ER) rather than just the hospital name.
- EU citizens with a valid EHIC/GHIC card and non-EU residents enrolled in the Italian SSN get emergency treatment covered; inappropriate (non-urgent) ER visits can incur a ticket fee.
Official Safety Apps
112 Where ARE U
- Cost
- Free
- Features
- Sends precise GPS location to the 112 operator, allows silent/text-based 'chat' emergency requests for those unable to speak, stores personal/medical/ICE contact info, and auto-switches to local emergency numbers if used abroad (e.g. dials 911 in the USA).
- Developer
- Developed by Lombardy Region, supported nationally by all PSAP emergency centers (official 112 app)
- Availability Note
- Coverage has expanded across most of Italy including Emilia-Romagna/Bologna, though some UK official guidance notes it may not yet be available in every part of the country.
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
Direct Service Numbers
State Police (Polizia)
- Number
- 113
- Notes
- For crimes, theft, accidents. Still active alongside 112.
Fire Brigade (Vigili Del Fuoco)
- Number
- 115
- Notes
- Fires, gas leaks, rescues.
Medical Emergency / Ambulance
- Number
- 118
- Notes
- Health emergencies and ambulance dispatch; also used for mountain rescue coordination.
Carabinieri (Military Police, Also Handles General Emergencies)
- Number
- 112
- Notes
- In many areas 112 was historically the Carabinieri number; it is now the unified emergency line.
Roadside Assistance (ACI)
- Number
- 803.116 (or 116 from abroad)
- Notes
- Automobile Club d'Italia, 24/7 breakdown assistance.
National Anti-Violence and Stalking Helpline
- Number
- 1522
- Notes
- For victims or witnesses of gender-based violence or stalking; multilingual support.
Environmental Emergency / Forestry Corps
- Number
- 1515
- Notes
- Wildfires and environmental crimes.
Guardia Di Finanza (Finance Police)
- Number
- 117
- Notes
- Tax fraud, smuggling, financial crimes.
Hospitals
Ospedale Maggiore "Carlo Alberto Pizzardi"
- Phone
- +39 051 6478111 (24h switchboard)
- Address
- Largo Nigrisoli, 2, 40133 Bologna
- ER Hours
- 24 hours
- Trauma Designation
- Designated regional Trauma Center for the Emilia-Romagna 118 emergency system
- Notes
- This is the region's main trauma referral hospital. It has four separate emergency departments (General, Orthopedic, Obstetric, Pediatric) and a rooftop heliport for air ambulance transfers.
Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi (Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna)
- Phone
- +39 051 2141111 (switchboard, Mon-Fri 7:00-19:00, Sat 7:00-13:00); Pronto Soccorso Generale direct line +39 051 2143430
- Address
- Via Massarenti, 9, 40138 Bologna (main teaching hospital campus)
- ER Hours
- General Emergency Department (Pronto Soccorso Generale, Via Albertoni 10): 24 hours. Pediatric ER (Via Massarenti 11): 24 hours. Obstetric-Gynecological ER (Via Massarenti 13): 24 hours. Ophthalmology ER (Via Palagi 9, Malpighi area): 8:00-20:00 only, after which adult eye emergencies are handled at the General ER.
- Trauma Designation
- Largest public teaching/university hospital in Italy by bed count; not formally the city's designated Trauma Center (that role belongs to Ospedale Maggiore), but handles a very high volume of emergency admissions and has advanced specialist units (transplant, cardio-thoracic, neurosurgery).
- Notes
- Sprawling campus of over 30 separate pavilions (padiglioni) spread across roughly 1.8 km, so confirm which pavilion your specific emergency department is in before arriving.
Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
- Phone
- +39 051 6366820
- Address
- Via Giulio Cesare Pupilli, 1, 40136 Bologna
- ER Hours
- Orthopedic-Traumatologic Emergency Ward: daily 7:30-19:30 (not 24 hours)
- Trauma Designation
- Specialized orthopedic/trauma referral institute, but its ER only covers bone, joint and musculoskeletal trauma, not general medical emergencies, and is closed overnight.
- Notes
- For overnight orthopedic trauma or any non-orthopedic emergency, patients are directed to Ospedale Maggiore or Sant'Orsola-Malpighi instead.
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 112
- English Speaking
- Yes
- Description
- Single European Emergency Number. Free to call from any phone (mobile or landline), even without a SIM card or credit. Since December 3, 2024, Bologna (Metropolitan City) has been part of the fully integrated 112 system (NUE 112), meaning calls are answered by a dedicated multilingual operator who dispatches police, fire, ambulance, or coast guard as needed.
Healthcare
- System Overview
- Bologna is served by the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), Italy's public universal healthcare system. Public hospitals are well-equipped with experienced staff, and the city also has private healthcare options.
- Quality Indicators
- Public hospitals and clinics in Bologna are of high standard with experienced medical professionals. Northern Italy (including Emilia-Romagna) offers more extensive healthcare facilities and shorter waiting times compared to southern regions.
- Registration Process For Residents
- Must register at local ASL, choose a general practitioner (medico di base), and request tessera sanitaria (Italian health card).
- Access For Visitors And Short Term Stays
- Digital nomads on visa typically must maintain private health insurance (mandatory requirement for visa application). Emergency services are free for all visitors.
Public Healthcare
- Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Annual Enrollment Cost Non EU
- €2,000
- Description
- Foreigners, including digital nomads, can access the public SSN system. After establishing residency and registering with the local health authority (ASL), residents can enroll in the SSN.
- Note Enrollment Cost
- Non-EU citizens can opt-in to the SSN after obtaining residency. Typical annual contribution is €2,000 (as of 2025).
Private Healthcare
- Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Advantages
- Faster appointments, shorter wait times, multilingual medical staff, access to specialist care without long delays.
- Availability
- Multiple private insurers and healthcare providers available, including hospitals and clinics.
- Common Providers
- Unisalute, FASI, Sanità Integrativa are popular private health insurers for expats and digital nomads.
Pharmacies
- Services
- Medications, health products, over-the-counter items, basic consultations with trained pharmacists. Pharmacists cannot handle major ailments or injuries; may refer to urgent care or hospital.
- Availability
- Pharmacies are widely available throughout Bologna, identifiable by the green cross sign. Placement is regulated based on population density.
Prescriptions
- Antibiotics
- Prescription required; cannot be purchased over-the-counter.
- General Policy
- Pharmacists can legally dispense certain non-abusive drugs using their judgment but may require a prescription.
- Online Prescriptions
- E-prescriptions available; online doctors can issue digital prescriptions sent directly to pharmacies.
Standard Hours
- Sunday
- Closed (except rotation on-call pharmacies)
- Saturday
- Variable; most closed on Saturday afternoons
- Weekday Morning
- 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Weekday Afternoon
- 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM
24 Hour Service
- Phone
- 051 239690
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, 7 days a week (surcharge applies for purchases during certain night hours)
- Location
- Benu Farmacia Centrale 24H, Piazza Maggiore 6
Alternative Access
- Airport Pharmacy
- Settanni at G. Marconi Airport (via Triumvirato 84), open daily 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- On Call Pharmacies
- Rotating on-call pharmacies operate 24/7. Check signage on closed pharmacy doors or contact local information for current duty pharmacy.
- Central Station Pharmacy
- Open 7:30 AM – 11:00 PM weekdays; 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sundays and public holidays.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Bologna
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.