From 1992 to 2019, he was known as the responsible medician for first visits to migrants who landed in Lampedusa; in 25 years, he examined and cared for about 250,000 refugees on the island.

A supporter of the reception of immigrants and asylum seekers and of the need for humanitarian corridors against human trafficking, he took part as a guest in several Italian television programmes.

In July 2019, having placed himself on leave for the parliamentary term, he was replaced at the head of the outpatient clinic in Lampedusa by former MP Francesco Cascio.

[7] In the 2018 Italian general election, Free and Equal announced his candidacy in the Senate of the Republic; in the end, Bartolo renounced it.

[15] Bartolo voted against the European Parliament resolution of 23 November 2022 on recognising the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism,[16] believing that the choice would prevent a diplomatic solution to the conflict.