Calabria launches EU 116117 hotline for non‑urgent health requests
On 28 July the Calabria regional health authority began operating the European Harmonised Number 116 117, a 24‑hour, seven‑days‑a‑week telephone service for non‑urgent medical needs. The line is managed by Azienda Zero, the governance body for the regional health system, and is intended to guide callers to appropriate territorial health services while reducing inappropriate calls to the emergency number 118.
The service will initially handle continuity‑care requests (the former “guardia medica”) and will gradually incorporate additional functions. Calls are routed through a technologically advanced central that is fully integrated with the regional health network, staffed by specially trained personnel. By distinguishing 116 117 from 118, the programme aims to ease pressure on emergency departments and improve overall efficiency of the regional health system.