Health and medical services

Italy does not present serious health risks but some precautions are always required. Vaccinations are not required for entry into Italy unless you come from a known infected area. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into Italy if you are coming from countries in tropical South America or sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and the Far East. Check with your local Italian Embassy (USA) or Consulate and consult your doctor for specific information related to your needs and your medical history; recommendations may differ for pregnant women, young children, and persons who have chronic medical conditions.

Citizens of the EEA countries and Switzerland are entitled to free medical treatment (sometimes a small contribution is required) while travelling to Italy, but must carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). From 01 January 2006, the EHIC replaced the Form E111. UK residents can apply for the EHIC here. The EHIC is not a replacement for health insurance and a private policy may be advisable. The main health hazards you may face in Venice are air pollution especially for asthma sufferers, insect biting in the summer months and various degrees of skin burns due to over exposure to the sun. Water is safe to drink, unless marked 'acqua non potabile'. Condoms are widely available over the counter at pharmacies and supermarkets.

This is the symbol that identifies a pharmacy, where you can receive qualified advice, some medicines over the counter and others on presentation of a doctor's prescription. Be aware that, products commonly available in your country, may not exist or have a different name in Italy. If you can, bring with you enough medications to last the entire duration of your holiday. Pharmacies operate the same opening hours as other shops and on the door there is a list of out-of-hours pharmacies where you can receive emergency treatment anytime.

If you require first aid treatment, go to the Ospedal Civile, Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo (tel 041/529 4516-7 or 041/520 5622). If you are staying at a hotel and require a doctor, ask the concierge or call the doctor on call (guardia medica) on 041/531 4481. An ambulance can be called on 041/523 0000 or by calling the national emergency number 113 (Police, Fire, Ambulance). Another hospital can be found at Venice Lido: Ospedale Civile Via Levantina 104, Lido di Jesolo (tel 0421/38 411)

English speaking doctors:
Dr Vittorio Urbani (paediatrician) - Giudecca 453/a, 30133 Venice - tel 041/528 5736
Dr Michele Sparla - San Marco 4933 - Sottoportico delle Acque, 30124 Venice - tel 041/523 0200

We will publish a more complete list as soon as we receive the authorisation from the doctors. In the meantime, you can get a copy by visiting the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office web site and e-mailing the appropriate department.

English speaking dentists:
same as above

Visitors with disabilities:
Venice is frown with obstacles and difficulties for the less abled bodies; narrow streets, uneven surfaces and numerous bridges make life hard; although new buildings must all be wheelchair accessible, old hotels and museums are almost inaccessible without assistance. Staff at airports, stations and other public places are usually helpful. Restaurants may present a few obstacles and a reservation is recommended. Italian State tourist offices provide a list of suitable accommodations for disabled.
In Venice, ANFFAS, San Polo 3080/N (tel 041/719 020) is a good source of information. Special maps showing more "user-friendly" areas of the city are available at major Tourist Information centres. For a general map of the city, click here (Acrobat Reader required).

English speaking veterinarians:
Dr Anna Lorenzon
Dorsoduro 2628
tel/fax: 041/522 3245
web site: I Tibetan Terrier del Serenissimo Ganesh
Other languages spoken: French and German

Travelling with pets
Cats and dogs are allowed into the country subject to medical and bureaucratic regulations; for your convenience we have reproduced the entire text issued by the Italian Embassy in London.

According to the Italian Ministerial Decree dated 10.04.1969, the following certificate must be produced in cases of import, export or transit of dogs and cats accompanied by travellers.
A bilingual (English and Italian) Certificate of Health issued from a local Veterinary Inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food containing the identification data of the animal and of the owner stating that:
- the animal was examined on the day of issue of the certificate and found to be free of any clinical signs of disease and
- the animal was examined on the day of issue of the certificate and had been vaccinated against rabies not less than twenty days and not more than eleven months prior to date of issue of the health certificate. This Certificate is valid for 30 days from the date of issue and can be renewed, for the same period of time, upon further medical examination.

For cats and dogs unaccompanied by travellers, Legislative Decree no. 633 dated 12.11.1996 applies. It prescribes that dogs and cats more than three months old can travel if accompanied by the following documentation:
- a bilingual Certificate issued from a local Veterinary Inspector of the Ministry stating that the animal was examined on the day of issue of the certificate and found to be free on any clinical signs of disease;
- the animals have been vaccinated against the rabies;
- the dogs have been vaccinated against distemper;
- the animals have been tattooed or identified with other systems recognised by the European Community;
- hold either an individual passport with the identification data of the animal and the dates of the vaccinations or an Health Certificate true to the certificate of the enclosure E of the Legislative Decree.

Cats and dogs under three months old are not required to be vaccinated against rabies but must have:
- a bilingual Certificate issued from a local Veterinary Inspector of the Ministry stating that the animal was examined on the day of issue of the certificate and found to be free on any clinical signs of disease;
- hold an individual passport which reports the identification data of the animal and the dates of the vaccinations;
- a certificate issued by the relevant Ministry stating that no cases of rabies have occurred for at least six months in the locality from which the animals originate.