Rome - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
You are better off getting more serious medical care outside of Rome if possible. I had issues dealing with women's health care because I got asked if my husband approved. I've had doctors refuse to talk to me and will only relay results to the Embassy Medical Unit. This leaves the Embassy Medical Unit in a quandary, because they didn't relay any useful information to them and there is a round robin of phone calls to get the results of the medical appointment. I would take all medical diagnosis with a complete grain of salt. The medical care is better in Milan. If you have a dentist or doctor that also practices in Milan, they are the better option. We are personally waiting to return to CONUS to get more intensive medical care done. - Jun 2026
The medical care was excellent. I personally received better OB/GYN medical care in Rome than in the US. The health unit at the US Embassy is excellent and will assist you in coordinating local care. - Sep 2025
The air quality is terrible. Lots of people end up buying nebulisers for home use. I consider the quality of medical care substandard, but it's apparently excellent for Mediterranean standards. Appointments are frustrating and their system drives many of us crazy. Great care at Mater Dei and Bambino Gesu, once you're in the system. I hate to say this, I found NHS less frustrating. - Aug 2024
Medical care is good here, no issues. It's a first world country. - Sep 2022
Very good if you're on the private system. Doctors do house calls and ambulances are private. - Oct 2014
No major health concerns to speak of. Medical care is readily available and good. The doctors are highly skilled and mostly accommodating. Support staff (nurses, orderlies, etc) are generally rude and unaccommodating. Rest assured your body will be very well taken care of, but your spirit maybe not so much. Private clinics treat you very well but are not necessarily as well equipped as hospitals. Italians tend to use more medicines than in the US, most medicines are available over-the-counter (at a higher price if) without a prescription, and Italian doctors tend to prescribe medication without performing clinical analyses (lab tests and cultures, etc.) first! - May 2013
Medical care is good. Kidney stones are a concern if you are prone to them and drink the local water. I drink from the local fountains and so far so good. - Apr 2012
I think its up to Western standards, but you have to watch where you go. Check with the health unit for referrals. - Aug 2010
Asthma and allergies are a problem here. The water is clean, but heavily calcified. If you drink nothing but tap water, you'll eventually get kidney stones. Doctors are somewhat old school here, in that they may not be interested in what you think is wrong with you, because you're just a patient, what do you know? However, the Embassy refers to American trained doctors, so we employees don't generally encounter those problems. You have to pay your bill when you go to the doctor, about US$150 and then submit your claim to your insurance company, who eventually send you a check back. No biggy if you're very healthy, but a problem if you're sick and require many visits. Children of embassy families are treated free of charge on site. - Feb 2008
Basic and standard medical care here is better than in the U.S. but prices vary. Reimbursements from Blue Cross has been a mixed bag: good and easy in a few cases, very difficult in others. - Feb 2008