112 is the European emergency phone number, available everywhere in the EU, free of charge.
You can call 112 from fixed and mobile phones to contact any emergency service: an ambulance, the fire brigade or the police. A specially trained operator will answer any 112 call.
When travelling it is always recommended to ensure you have medical travel insurance for any unforeseen circumstances that might arise. It is also recommended to carry a European Health Card if available to you (see below).
When buying daily or weekly ski passes it’s recommended to take out the optional insurance to ensure that if you need medical help on the mountain, some or all of the costs are covered. View the policy below for more details about coverage.
This provides like-for-like medical treatment across Europe for EU citizens. Always check how this applies to your country.
When you travel to an EU country or Switzerland you should have either:
a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
You should also have travel insurance with healthcare cover.
An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. Make sure you have both before you travel.
Each healthcare system is different, and in some countries you’ll need to pay to have treatment.
Sauze d’Oulx has an emergency trauma centre and doctor.
If you have an emergency on the mountains, it is likely that you will, at first, be taken to the Sauze Trauma Centre. This is a private emergency clinic in the village. You will have to pay for treatment given here. If you are subsequently taken to Susa Hospital or one of the hospitals in Turin, treatment should be paid for if you have an EHIC card. Always check with your country’s healthcare providers.
In case of an emergency (general or dental) while on holiday in Italy visit your nearest SSN hospital or any Guardia Medica, which offers an after-hours First Aid Service. Make sure you have your EHIC card with you.
Italy treats dentistry as a specialist treatment. You’ll need to be referred by a doctor for any hospital or dental treatment. Make sure you are referred to a public hospital, that you have a valid EHIC or SSN medical card and double-check you are not treated as a private patient.
Hospital or dental treatments are not necessarily free of charge and you may be asked to make a patient co-payment.
You can take your prescription to any pharmacy (farmacia) in Italy. They can be identified by a green cross. Prescriptions are generally not free and you are expected to make a co-payment towards it. However, some medicines are considered ‘life-savers’ and those are free of charge. Others are not covered by the SSN and you will have to pay the full costs for those.
Italian pharmacies are regulated by law, which means you will always find an open pharmacy in your area at night, holidays and Sundays. Each pharmacy displays information about its opening hours and out-of-hours emergency telephone numbers.
Sauze Pharmacy (Farmacia)
Via Monfol, 17
Tel +39 0122 850203
Sauze Parafarmacia (no prescriptions)
Via Assietta, 7
Tel +39 0122 858598
Hospital
Corso Inghilterra, 66
SUSA
Tel. 0122.621212
Hospital
24 Av. Adrien Daurelle
BRIANCON (FR)
Tel. +33 492 25 25 25
Trauma Centre
(Private)
P.zza III Rgt. Alpini, 2
SAUZE D’OULX
Tel. 0122.859602
Ambulance
Pubblica Assistenza
Private transfers to/from the hospital
TEL. 0122.858159
Alpine Rescue
Telephone 112
For more advice on how to access emergency care in Italy visit the Italian Ministry of Health website.
Useful Italian phrases for medical conditions and body parts can be found here
Please note: the information on this page is intended as guidance only.