Cagliari has four public hospitals (ospedale in Italian) with emergency units. Although there can be long queues for minor problems, more serious cases are usually addressed professionally, swiftly and free of charge.
Pharmacies (farmacia) are easily recognizable from the luminous red or green cross on the outside. Opening hours generally follow similar time patterns to shops. A few pharmacies are open at night, on Sundays and public holidays. These change on a weekly basis and the list with addresses and phone numbers is always on display on boards outside every single pharmacy in town as well as at www.ordfarma.it.