Part of living in Italy as an expat is adapting the practical parts of your life to a new culture and new system. One of these aspects is healthcare in Italy, and medication in particular. Getting a medication prescription in Italy is a simple process, with steps surprisingly similar to what you would take in countries like the United States.
Though Italy may not have some of the name-brand medicine known throughout the world, you’ll be able to find all your health needs at pharmacies all across the country. We’ll take you through everything you need to know about the process of getting prescription medication in Italy.
Will a prescription from another country work in Italy?
Say you’ve had a monthly prescription of your medicine for years, and you want to roll it over to an Italian pharmacy. Would this work?
For anyone living in the EU, medicine prescribed by an EU doctor is valid in all other countries within the EU. But it’s important to consider that Italy may not have the same exact medicine that they have in other EU countries, US, or other places.
Unfortunately, a prescription that is given by a doctor from the United States is not legally recognized in Italy. If you’re visiting or have moved to Italy and need an emergency refill of your prescription, you’ll have to find a doctor in the country to prescribe you the medicine you need.
Getting a prescription from a doctor in Italy
Like many countries, you must first consult a doctor in order to get a prescription for medicine that’s regulated as prescription-only. Depending on what kind of prescription you need, you may have to consult a specialist. However, you usually can make appointments directly with these doctors, skipping a general practitioner visit.
As an expat, if you have private medical insurance or are registered with the National Health Services (Sistema Sanitario Nazionale), you’ll have access to tons of options for doctors and prescriptions.
Italy has many places where you can make a doctor’s appointment, from private hospitals, public hospitals, urgent care doctors (guardia medica), clinics or even charities or religious institutions. For foreigners with insurance, your best bet is to go to a private hospital. Many doctors who work at these hospitals speak English and are used to working with expats. This way, you’ll know there will be no miscommunication.
You’ll get your prescription either in written form or emailed to you, and many times, the doctor can adjust your medication through WhatsApp or email. It might feel a little strange to communicate your health issues over a third-party application (HIPAA is not a thing in Italy), but this is totally normal in Italy.
Both digital and paper prescriptions are accepted as long as the document has your full name, date of birth, prescription’s issue date, the doctor’s details, and the official document’s name.
The great thing about getting your prescriptions through either email or WhatsApp is the prescription renewal process is really easy. If you’re on monthly medication, your doctor may have an auto-renew set up, or you can simply message or email them asking for a renewal. You won’t have to visit every time to get a new prescription.
Where to get your prescription medication in Italy
Like North America, Pharmacies are the only place you can get prescription or over-the-counter medicine. You’ll find these dotted throughout the country, at least one on every busy street or city center in even the smallest towns, indicated by the green cross and “Farmacia” signs.
Pharmacists themselves cannot prescribe you prescription medicine, but if you have a question about mild symptoms, they may be able to help you by giving you an over-the-counter option for your issue, but they cannot give you anything stronger than ibuprofen.
The process is generally simple for getting a prescription. You only have to give the pharmacist the document your doctor filled out, either on paper or through your phone, and the pharmacist will get you the prescription. Sometimes, they’ll ask you about the symptoms you’re showing, and most of the pharmacies will have English-speaking staff, at least in the bigger cities.
Is it easy to get over-the-counter medicine from pharmacies?
If you’re looking for regular over-the-counter painkillers like Advil, your best bet is to use the name of the active ingredient rather than the brand name. For example, Advil’s active ingredient is ibuprofen.
One thing to know about pharmacies in Italy is that you won’t get huge amounts of medicine like the bulk orders you can get in the States. Usually, you’ll be handed a packet of ten to twenty pills.
Also, be aware that the dosage may be much larger than you’re used to for many of the over-the-counter medicines sold in other countries. Make sure you’re only taking the doctor-recommended amount of medicine.
You won’t be able to find even over-the-counter medicine in supermarkets, either. In fact, most aren’t even allowed to sell food supplements.
What do pharmacies in Italy sell?
Here are some of the things you can find in pharmacies:
- Prescription Medications
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
- Healthcare Products
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Cosmetics and Skincare Products
- Baby and Infant Products
- Orthopedic Supplies
- Medical Devices.
- Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies
- Personal Care Products
- Contraceptives
- Health Information and Advice
- Smoking Cessation Aid
- Travel Medications
- Veterinary Medications
Note that if you’re looking for things like contact solution, you’ll find this at optometrist’s offices or eyeglass and contact-selling stores. Additionally, if you have a pet that needs prescription drugs like flea and tick medicine, you’ll also find this at the pharmacy rather than from the vet themselves.
Do pharmacies have regular hours in Italy?
If you’ve lived in Italy for any period of time, you may be worried that pharmacies have irregular hours like supermarkets, banks, and other shops in Italy. However, because they are considered an essential service, pharmacies are open every day of the week. The larger ones will stay open from around 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., while smaller “mom and pop” style pharmacies may take a lunch break.
Additionally, there are some 24-hour pharmacies, especially in the bigger cities of Italy. These will be clearly marked (24 hora), and if the local pharmacy is closed, they’ll usually post directions to the nearest 24-hour pharmacy.
Does Italy have online pharmacies?
Yes, Italy has recently allowed online pharmacies to sell over-the-counter medicine, cosmetics, vitamins, and other medicines. However, they cannot sell prescribed medicine at this point in time.
The EU has strict regulations for pharmacies to ensure you don’t get any knock-off brands of medicine. Be sure that the website you’re ordering anything from online has the official European Union logo, certifying that you are purchasing high-quality medicine.
How much do prescriptions cost in Italy?
Prescriptions are generally less expensive in Italy than in the U.S. For example, Insulin costs about $10 in Italy, while the worldwide average is $12, and the average in the United States is a whopping $96. However, the price of prescription medicine is not regulated by the Italian government, so you’ll find that medicine prices are hugely varied on a case-by-case basis.
