General Practitioner (Family Doctor)
Plain English
Your GP within the SSN, the first point of contact for almost any medical issue. They write your prescriptions, refer you to specialists, sign sick notes, and request blood tests through the public system. You pick one when you enrol with the SSN.
Why it matters
Visits are free, prescriptions through the SSN cost very little, and they're the gatekeeper to the rest of the public system. You can\'t see a public specialist or get a free blood test without their referral (l\'impegnativa).
Real example
"After a week of a bad cough in Turin, Diego booked a same-week morning slot at his medico di base. The visit was free, he got an SSN prescription for antibiotics, and the pharmacy charged him only the small ticket fee."
Common confusion
You can change your medico di base at any time at the ASL or online, and there\'s no penalty for switching. If yours has long waits or bad hours, just change.
Official source
Ministero della Salute