How many citizens in Varese are without a GP in 2026?

According to the data provided by the territorial Asst, there are 15,177 assisted in the Asst Seven Lakes and 4,983 in the Asst Valle Olona, for a total of over 20,160 citizens without a stable general practitioner. The situation has persisted in some districts for about two years.

How many doctors will retire in Varese in the next two years?

In the Asst Seven Lakes, 17 doctors will reach pension requirements by the end of 2027 (4 by the end of 2026, 13 by the end of 2027). In the Asst Valle Olona, the number is even more critical: 92 total professionals (37 by the end of 2026, 55 by the end of 2027), with important concentrations in Gallarate and Busto Arsizio-Castellanza.

How do temporary medical surgeries work in Varese?

Temporary surgeries guarantee prescriptions, urgent visits and essential medical certificates for a short period of time. However, they do not replace the family doctor: they do not have access to the patient's medical history, they do not continuously manage chronic diseases, and the service is limited to the most urgent services. They represent a solution born for the emergency that is likely to become ordinary.

If I am a border worker residing in Varese, can I use the Swiss health system?

Yes, if you have a G (border) permit, you have the right of option: you can choose to insure yourself with a Swiss health insurance (LAMal) and access Swiss family doctors. This choice has significant tax and administrative implications; consult a border tax expert to assess the convenience in your case.

How long has the shortage of primary care doctors in Varese lasted?

In some districts, such as Gazzada, the shortage has lasted for about two years. It is therefore not a temporary situation, but a chronic one that is worsening with the waves of retirements planned for 2026-2027. The Lombardy Region has not yet communicated a structural strategy for generational change.

Varese: over 20,000 without a doctor, a challenge for border workers (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 3 September 2026

Panoramic view of Varese province with Ticino mountains in the background, home to many Swiss-Italian frontier workers

Over 20,000 residents without a doctor in Varese. In two years 92 retired doctors. A crisis that affects Ticino border workers residing in the province.

Context

In short

15,177 patients without a doctor in Asst Sette Laghi: immediate emergency
4,983 patients without a doctor in Asst Valle Olona with 92 doctors retiring
Shortage persists for over 2 years in some districts; temporary clinics cover the emergency

Key facts

What: Severe shortage of general practitioners in the province of Varese
Where: Asst Sette Laghi (15,177 citizens) and Asst Valle Olona (4,983 citizens)
When: 2026-2027; 17 doctors retiring in Sette Laghi, 92 in Valle Olona by the end of 2027
Who: PD councilor Samuele Astuti raised the alarm through access to documents
Impact: Over 20,160 citizens without a stable reference for primary healthcare

Over 20,000 citizens in the province of Varese do not have a general practitioner. This is the alarming picture that emerges from official data provided by the two local health and social care companies following an access to documents presented by the regional councilor of the Democratic Party Samuele Astuti. In total, 15,177 patients are uncovered in Asst Sette Laghi, while 4,983 are in Asst Valle Olona, for a total of over 20,160 residents without a stable figure for primary healthcare.

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Operational details

What it means for the border worker resident in Varese

Ticino-Italy border workers who reside in the province of Varese are in a particularly delicate situation. This group of workers resides in Italy and works in Switzerland: a geographical configuration that exposes them to the problems of Italian health, but which also allows them to access the Swiss health system. The shortage of primary care physicians in Varese is not a purely local issue-it is a concrete problem that impacts the continuity of care, especially for elderly border workers or those with established chronic diseases.

A stable general practitioner provides diagnostic continuity, knows the patient's medical history, coordinates any specialist examinations and provides medical certificates necessary for work and administrative procedures in Switzerland. When this figure is missing, the border worker must resort to temporary surgeries, which guarantee the essential services (request for medicines, urgent visits, short-term certificates) but not the relational and diagnostic continuity that characterizes family medicine. The lack of continuity is particularly problematic for those who have to coordinate their health between two health systems - the Italian one of residence and the Swiss one of work.

Deadlines and numbers to keep an eye on

By the end of 2026, four doctors from Asst Seven Lakes will have reached pension requirements.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

What to do if you are a resident of Varesotto without a family doctor

If you live in Varesotto and do not have a stable general practitioner, your immediate options are two: access the temporary clinic of your district or, if you have a G permit (cross-border worker), consider enrolling in the Swiss healthcare system as a structural alternative.

1. Contact the relevant ASST (Sette Laghi or Valle Olona depending on your district) to find out the location and hours of the temporary clinic in your area. 2. Bring essential documentation: national health card, identity document. 3. Obtain essential services: prescriptions for medications, urgent visits, medical certificates for a short period. 4. Request guidance for specialists: the temporary clinic can provide indications on how to access specialist visits if necessary.

The procedure is simplified, but remember that temporary clinics do not replace the family doctor: they do not have access to your previous medical history, cannot manage chronic conditions continuously, and the service is limited to the most urgent services. For the cross-border worker, this solution represents a temporary measure, not a cure.

Alternative option for the cross-border worker: access to the Swiss healthcare system

If you have a G permit (cross-border worker), you have the right to choose whether to insure yourself with a Swiss health insurance (LAMal) or to maintain enrollment in the Italian healthcare service. This right is called the 'right of option'. If you choose to insure yourself in Switzerland, you will be able to access Swiss family doctors and benefit from the Swiss healthcare system, ensuring continuity of care even during periods of work in Ticino.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many citizens in Varese are without a GP in 2026?: According to the data provided by the territorial Asst, there are 15,177 assisted in the Asst Seven Lakes and 4,983 in the Asst Valle Olona, for a total of over 20,160 citizens without a stable general practitioner. The situation has persisted in some districts for about two years.
How many doctors will retire in Varese in the next two years?: In the Asst Seven Lakes, 17 doctors will reach pension requirements by the end of 2027 (4 by the end of 2026, 13 by the end of 2027). In the Asst Valle Olona, the number is even more critical: 92 total professionals (37 by the end of 2026, 55 by the end of 2027), with important concentrations in Gallarate and Busto Arsizio-Castellanza.
How do temporary medical surgeries work in Varese?: Temporary surgeries guarantee prescriptions, urgent visits and essential medical certificates for a short period of time. However, they do not replace the family doctor: they do not have access to the patient's medical history, they do not continuously manage chronic diseases, and the service is limited to the most urgent services. They represent a solution born for the emergency that is likely to become ordinary.
If I am a border worker residing in Varese, can I use the Swiss health system?: Yes, if you have a G (border) permit, you have the right of option: you can choose to insure yourself with a Swiss health insurance (LAMal) and access Swiss family doctors. This choice has significant tax and administrative implications; consult a border tax expert to assess the convenience in your case.
How long has the shortage of primary care doctors in Varese lasted?: In some districts, such as Gazzada, the shortage has lasted for about two years. It is therefore not a temporary situation, but a chronic one that is worsening with the waves of retirements planned for 2026-2027. The Lombardy Region has not yet communicated a structural strategy for generational change.