Italy's pharmacy sector examines supplemental health insurance differences

In Italy, the pharmacy and health‑care sectors are reviewing both policy frameworks and insurance options for professionals. A recent Enpaf note highlighted the distinct roles of the Fasifar fund, created for employees of private pharmacies under the sector’s collective bargaining agreement, and the Emapi fund, a broader mutual assistance scheme that covers all Enpaf members and retirees. President Maurizio Pace explained that Fasifar mainly supplements post‑hospital care and preventive services, while Emapi provides primary coverage for hospitalisations and family members.

At the same time, a series of industry events in Rome discussed wider challenges: a workshop on reforming pharmaceutical legislation addressed spending caps, pay‑back mechanisms, digital prescriptions and the evolving role of community pharmacies. Discussions also covered the Italian biosimilar market’s need for competition, the potential of artificial intelligence to cut drug‑development costs by up to 25 %, and a new three‑year procurement agreement between Consip and Confindustria for medical devices that emphasizes value‑based purchasing and sustainability.