Italy pharmacy sector addresses healthcare proximity and digital prescription mandates

In Italy, the pharmacy sector is undergoing significant shifts regarding its role in community health and digital integration. Federfarma Lombardia recently held an annual event in Milan to discuss the evolution of pharmacies as strategic hubs for healthcare proximity and social cohesion. The discussions focused on the pharmacy's role as a primary access point for citizens and a vital partner to the National Health Service (SSN) in addressing demographic and epidemiological changes.

Simultaneously, the Movimento Nazionale Liberi Farmacisti (MNLF) has issued a formal warning to the Italian government, including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The association is demanding the full implementation of laws requiring electronic prescriptions for all medications, specifically including psychotropic substances such as benzodiazepines. The MNLF reports that despite legislation mandating dematerialization as of January 1, 2025, some categories of psychotropic drugs are still being prescribed via paper, causing operational difficulties for doctors, pharmacists, and patients.