Italy enhances emergency service access in Veneto and Lazio

Italian regions are enhancing the visibility and utility of the 112 European Emergency Number (NUE) to streamline access to healthcare and emergency services.

In the Veneto region, the 116117 service for non-urgent medical requests has seen significant engagement. Between July 8 and August 4, the service handled 55,691 calls, with an average management time of 4 minutes and 49 seconds. To meet this demand, the region is increasing its staff, adding 18 new operators to the existing team of 114. The service operates 24/7 through two regional operational centers located in Venice and Vicenza, providing medical, socio-medical, or informational assistance.

In the Lazio region, authorities are launching a campaign to make the 112 emergency number more recognizable. The logo for the European Emergency Number will be applied to more than 260 emergency vehicles in the Ares 118 fleet. Lazio President Francesco Rocca initiated the campaign by applying the first sticker to an ambulance, aiming to ensure citizens immediately associate the number with emergency assistance. The 112 system, which has been operational in Rome and Lazio for over a decade, centralizes calls to identify locations and direct them to the appropriate service, such as police, fire departments, or medical responders.