Healthcare professions in Italy

The Italian healthcare system relies on approximately 1.5 million professionals who manage both public and private medical services. The state officially recognizes 31 distinct healthcare professions that require mandatory registration with professional orders, in addition to traditional medical roles such as doctors, dentists, veterinarians, and pharmacists.

These recognized professions are categorized into four primary macro-areas:

• Nursing and Midwifery: Including nurses, pediatric nurses, and midwives. • Rehabilitation: Including physiotherapists, speech therapists, podiatrists, and neuropsychomotricity therapists. • Technical-Health: Covering diagnostic roles like radiology and biomedical laboratory technicians, as well as care roles like dental hygienists and dietitians. • Technical Prevention: Including health assistants and environmental/workplace prevention technicians.

Additionally, socio-health roles such as the Operatore Socio-Sanitario (OSS) provide essential support, though these positions do not require a university degree but rather specific training courses.