Sardinia Healthcare System Guide
How the healthcare system works in Sardinia — emergency numbers, GP access, vaccines, insurance and medical costs for visitors and expats.
Healthcare system overview
Sardinia has adequate public healthcare managed by ATS Sardegna. Main hospitals: AOU Cagliari (university hospital, south), AOU Sassari (university hospital, north), Ospedale Giovanni Paolo II (Olbia — closest to Costa Smeralda). Costa Smeralda (Porto Cervo) has private clinics for wealthy tourists. Interior and rural areas have limited healthcare. English is limited — Italian essential in healthcare settings.
System type: Italian NHS (SSN — Servizio Sanitario Nazionale/ATS Sardegna) + private sector
Emergency numbers & response
Dial: 112 (European) or 118 (medical emergency — Italy)
Typical response time: 10-15 minutes in Cagliari and Sassari. 15-30+ minutes in coastal resorts. 30+ minutes in interior. Helicopter (elisoccorso) available for remote areas.
Costs: Public ER (EHIC): FREE for urgent cases. Codice bianco (non-urgent): €25 ticket. Private: €100-400.
Call 118 for ambulance or 112. Italian ER uses triage colour codes: rosso (red — immediate), giallo (yellow — urgent), verde (green — minor), bianco (white — non-urgent). White-code patients may wait 4-8+ hours and pay €25. Coast Guard for maritime emergencies: 1530.
Seeing a doctor as a visitor
EU citizens: EHIC at ASL (local health authority) or Guardia Medica Turistica (tourist doctor service in summer). Private doctors in main cities.
Typical wait: Guardia Medica Turistica: 1-3 hours (summer). Private: same-day. Public ER (non-urgent): 4-8+ hours.
Typical cost: Guardia Medica Turistica: €20-50. Private GP: €60-120. Specialist: €80-200.
Good in Cagliari, Sassari, Olbia. Guardia Medica Turistica operates in resort areas Jun-Sep only. Very limited in interior and small coastal towns.
Vaccines for travel
Recommended: Routine vaccines, Tetanus booster, Hepatitis A (optional)
No special requirements. Intense summer sun. Jellyfish common in August.
Insurance & visa health requirements
Insurance required for visa: depends
Public coverage for visitors: limited
Part of Italy and the EU.
Documents to prepare:
- EHIC/GHIC
- Passport/ID
- Travel insurance
- Italian phrases for medical situations
Typical medical costs
Private GP visit: €60-120
Emergency care without insurance: €25-400
Medication: Italian pharmacy prices — moderate. Farmacie in all towns. Prescription (ricetta medica) needed for most medications.
Pharmacies & medication
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-1pm, 4-8pm. Farmacia di turno for after-hours.
Over the counter: Moderate range. Italian pharmacies more restrictive than some EU countries.
Controlled substances: Standard EU regulations. Italian customs can be strict — carry prescriptions.
Things that catch visitors out in Sardinia
- English is very LIMITED in Sardinian healthcare — learn basic Italian medical phrases
- Guardia Medica Turistica (tourist doctor service) only operates Jun-Sep in resort areas
- Costa Smeralda has private clinics for wealthy tourists but nearest hospital is Olbia (30-45 min)
- Italian ER triage: non-urgent (codice bianco) means 4-8+ hour waits and a €25 fee
- Interior Sardinia (Barbagia, Gennargentu) has very limited healthcare and poor mobile signal
Practical tips for travellers
- AOU Cagliari and AOU Sassari — university hospitals with best care on the island
- Ospedale Giovanni Paolo II (Olbia) — closest hospital to Costa Smeralda resorts
- Guardia Medica Turistica — summer-only tourist doctor service in resort areas. Ask your hotel.
- Learn key Italian: "Ho bisogno di un medico" (I need a doctor), "Ho male qui" (It hurts here), "Sono allergico a..." (I'm allergic to...)
- Jellyfish treatment: Italian pharmacies sell specific creams (crema per meduse)
- Bring own medications — pharmacy stock can be limited in small coastal towns
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