Marche region to make Service Pharmacies a permanent healthcare fixture

The Marche region in Italy has announced that the 'Service Pharmacy' model will become a permanent part of the regional healthcare system starting October 1, 2026. This transition follows a pilot phase initiated in 2023 and aims to improve access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas and small municipalities, by reducing the need for long-distance travel to hospitals.

Under the new structure, participating pharmacies will offer various medical services, including electrocardiograms, cardiac and blood pressure Holter monitoring, spirometry, nursing services, and vaccinations. Citizens will also be able to use pharmacies for booking appointments through the Single Booking Center (Cup) and access prevention and screening support.

For services involving co-payments, citizens who are not exempt will pay the required ticket directly at the pharmacy according to regional rates. The initiative is part of a national stabilization process outlined in the 2026 Budget Law and is implemented through new national and regional collective agreements.