If a guest falls ill or has an accident: 112, EHIC and pharmacies on duty (Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, 2026)

Updated: 10 November 2026

A guest with a fever at midnight, a fall on the stairs, a child who cuts themselves at the pool: at that moment reception needs to know whom to call and what to say about the health card and costs. This guide only gathers numbers and procedures checked on 10 November 2026 in official sources (European Commission, Junta de Andalucía, gov.pt, Regione Toscana and others). It is not medical advice: whenever in doubt about someone's health, call 112. Whatever we could not confirm is marked «not confirmed».

The short answer

The essentials:

Danger to life (unconsciousness, serious accident, heavy bleeding): 112, free across the EU, from landline or mobile.
Andalusia: 061 health emergencies; Salud Responde 955 545 060 for health information (not an emergency line).
Portugal: Linha SNS 24, 808 24 24 24, 24-hour advice and referral. Italy: 118 (free) and guardia medica (116117 in regions such as Tuscany). Greece: 166 (EKAV).
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives access to public healthcare on the same terms as people insured in that country; it does not cover private care or repatriation.
Pharmacies on duty: each country organises them locally (pharmacists' associations). In Portugal, the free 1400 line tells you the nearest night-duty pharmacy.
The property calls, gives the exact address, accompanies and records; it does not diagnose or prescribe.

112 and emergencies

According to the European Commission:

112 has been the single European emergency number since 1991, free in all EU countries, from landline and mobile, for ambulance, fire brigade and police.
In many countries operators answer in the national language plus English or French; 112 Andalucía answers in Spanish, English, French, German and Arabic (Junta de Andalucía).
The operator can locate the call, but always give the property's exact address, the room and how to get in.
National numbers (061, 118, 166) still work; 112 works in all four countries.

European Health Insurance Card: what it covers

According to Your Europe and the European Commission's country pages:

It covers care that cannot wait until the guest gets home, with the same rights as people insured in that country, only in public or contracted healthcare.
It does not cover: private healthcare, rescue or repatriation, or planned treatment. That needs travel insurance.
Without an EHIC treatment cannot be refused, but the guest may have to pay and claim reimbursement from their insurer back home.
Spain: public healthcare is free; if asked to pay upfront, it is not the public system. Medicines prescribed in the public system: 50% contribution (10% for pensioners, with exceptions).
Italy: with the EHIC patients pay the «ticket» (co-payment) even in emergencies; at the pharmacy you pay upfront.
Greece: public health centres and hospitals (ESY) are free; medicines with a stamped and signed prescription, usually with a 25% patient contribution; without an EHIC, €20 per consultation at public outpatient services.
Portugal: the EHIC is accepted only in public hospitals and health centres (gov.pt).

Spain (Andalusia)

According to the Junta de Andalucía and the European Commission:

061: health emergencies (loss of consciousness, heart attack, heavy bleeding). They will ask where you are calling from, what happened and how many people are affected.
112 Andalucía: all kinds of emergencies, free.
Salud Responde 955 545 060: 24 hours every day, health information and appointments; has a translation service (languages not confirmed). Not an emergency line.
Non-life-threatening urgent care: some health centres have urgent care during their hours and hospital emergency departments outside them; the Junta has a health centre finder.
The European Commission warns that hotels and tour operators sometimes recommend private doctors, who charge. If you recommend one, say clearly it is private and paid.
Outside Andalusia, each region's health number: not confirmed in this guide.

Portugal

According to gov.pt:

112: medical emergency, free, 24 hours.
Linha SNS 24, 808 24 24 24: 24-hour line for health questions, advice and referral; the call costs the same as a landline call. The SNS 24 portal explains when to call the line or INEM.
The EHIC is only valid in public hospitals and health centres.
Portuguese pharmacies' 1400 line (ANF document): free, gives the nearest night-duty pharmacy and 24-hour pharmaceutical advice.

Italy

According to the European Commission and Regione Toscana:

118: free national health emergency number; 112 also works and some regions, such as Tuscany, refer to 112 for emergencies.
Guardia medica (continuità assistenziale): for problems that cannot wait when the GP is unavailable. In Tuscany call 116117, weekdays 20:00-08:00 and full weekends and holidays; non-residents pay a co-payment.
Guardia medica turistica: a seasonal service for non-residents in tourist areas, run by the local health authority (ASL/USL), with a user contribution. Times and prices: ask your ASL (outside Tuscany, not confirmed).
Public emergency ambulance: free.

Greece

According to the European Commission:

166: National Centre for Emergency Care (EKAV), ambulances and air ambulance. Also 112.
EKAV transport to a public hospital on duty is free; private ambulances must be paid for.
1566: according to the press, citing the Ministry of Health, a free line since 15 July 2025 giving on-call schedules of pharmacies and hospitals; it does not replace 166. Whether it runs 24 hours: not confirmed.
Already checked in our defibrillator guide: since 1-10-2025 short-term rentals must have a first-aid kit and a guide with emergency numbers (Law 5170/2025).

Pharmacies on duty

How to find them, as far as we could check:

Spain: pharmacists' associations (colegios) organise the rota; the Andalusian Council of Pharmacists' website has a «Farmacias de guardia» section. Official national finder: not confirmed.
Portugal: free 1400 line (Portuguese pharmacies). Ordem dos Farmacêuticos finder: not confirmed.
Italy: rotas depend on each province and region; official Federfarma finder: not confirmed. Ask your ASL or town hall.
Greece: local pharmacists' associations (for example, Attica's) publish the pharmacies on duty («εφημερεύοντα»); according to the press, also the 1566 line. Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association service: not confirmed.
In any country: ask your nearest pharmacy today how the duty rota is published in your town and write it down.

What the property can do

Procedures, not medicine:

Call 112 (or the national number) without delay, with the exact address, and send someone to meet the ambulance.
Stay with the person and follow the 112 operator's instructions.
Remind the guest to bring their EHIC (or provisional certificate) and ID, and to ask for public healthcare.
If the guest prefers a private doctor, tell them clearly it is paid and the EHIC doesn't cover it.
Note the time, what happened and whom you called; if there was an accident on the premises, notify your liability insurer.
Don't give medicines or medical advice: that is for 112, health lines and pharmacies.

What to do this week

Practical checklist for reception:

Print at reception and in the room manual: 112 and the national number (061 Andalusia, 808 24 24 24, 118, 166), in several languages.
Write down the address and phone of the nearest public health centre and hospital, and how to find the pharmacy on duty in your town.
Write the property's exact address (with coordinates if rural) next to the phone.
Check the first-aid kit and, if you have a defibrillator, that it is registered and signposted under your regional rules.
Explain on your profile that the EHIC doesn't cover private care or repatriation and suggest travel insurance.

How iQuota helps

iQuota connects your property with AI assistants for direct booking, no commission and payment at the property:

You can write your real services on your profile (first-aid kit, defibrillator, distance to the health centre) so the AI can give them correctly.
We don't promise bookings or that any particular AI will show you: that depends on each assistant.

Frequently asked questions

Which number do I call if a guest faints?

112, free across the EU. In Andalusia also 061; in Italy 118; in Greece 166.

Does the EHIC cover a private doctor?

No. Only public or contracted healthcare, on the same terms as people insured in that country.

Does the EHIC cover getting home by ambulance or air ambulance?

No: according to the European Commission, it doesn't cover rescue or repatriation. Travel insurance is needed.

What is 808 24 24 24?

Portugal's Linha SNS 24: 24-hour health advice and referral. For emergencies, 112.

How do I find the pharmacy on duty?

It depends on the country: pharmacists' associations in Spain, the 1400 line in Portugal, the ASL or town hall in Italy and local pharmacists' associations or the 1566 line in Greece.

Sources

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