by InTrieste
The regional government of Friuli Venezia Giulia has expanded a unified telephone service for non-urgent medical assistance, aiming to streamline access to healthcare and reduce pressure on emergency services.
Beginning Monday, April 13, the European harmonized number 116117 will be active 24 hours a day across the entire region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The service had previously been tested in parts of eastern areas, including Gorizia and Trieste, and is now being extended to the provinces of Udine and Pordenone.
Riccardo Riccardi, the regional councillor for health, said the initiative strengthens “continuous, free and more appropriate responses” to citizens’ non-urgent healthcare needs. Riccardo Riccardi described the rollout as part of a broader effort to make the healthcare system more organized and targeted, guiding residents toward the most suitable level of care.
The 116117 number is designed as a single point of access for medical situations that do not require emergency intervention. It connects users to Italy’s out-of-hospital care network and is integrated with the regional emergency operations system, the SORES Friuli Venezia Giulia, ensuring coordination with emergency services when necessary.
Through the service, callers can access Italy’s continuity-of-care system (formerly known as out-of-hours medical care), receive telephone consultations, and, when appropriate, schedule clinic or home visits. Operators also help direct patients to general practitioners or specialized territorial services, and can provide guidance on public health, environmental risks, and veterinary health issues.
According to regional authorities, a pilot phase conducted in areas managed by the local health authority ASUGI recorded more than 20,000 calls between February and March. The service averaged about 355 calls per day, with peaks of up to 500 on weekends and holidays. On one day of exceptionally high demand, operators handled roughly 1,200 requests, coinciding with the absence of general practitioners and pediatricians for training activities.
Officials said the results suggest strong demand for a centralized non-emergency medical contact point, particularly during periods when primary care services are less available.
“The activation of 116117 represents a significant step in strengthening territorial healthcare,” Riccardi said in a statement. “It simplifies access to services and provides citizens with a clear, immediate and always reachable reference for non-urgent health needs, while also supporting more appropriate use of emergency care.”
