The 3 Greatest Moments In Buy Generic Medication Italy History Navigating Healthcare: A Complete Guide to Buying Generic Medication in Italy Health care systems vary substantially from nation to nation, and browsing a foreign pharmacy can be a difficult task for expats, travelers, and even recently shown up citizens. If you find yourself in requirement of a prescription or over-the-counter remedy while living in or traveling through Italy, understanding how the pharmaceutical market works-- specifically regarding generic medications-- can save both money and time. This thorough guide checks out everything one needs to understand about purchasing generic medication in Italy, consisting of policies, cost-saving strategies, and what to expect at the local farmacia. Comprehending the Italian Pharmaceutical Landscape Italy boasts a robust healthcare system called the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN). Within this system, pharmaceuticals are strictly managed by the Italian Medicines Agency, understood as AIFA (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco). AIFA is responsible for licensing drugs for the Italian market, monitoring their security, and figuring out pricing and repayment standards. When a patent for a brand-name drug ends, pharmaceutical business can apply to produce and market generic equivalents. By European Union standards, these generic medications (farmaci equivalenti) should include the exact same active ingredients, have the same dosage type, and offer the exact same therapeutic impact as their brand-name equivalents. Brand-Name vs. Generic in Italy Lots of customers question if generic drugs in Italy are of lower quality due to the fact that of their decreased rate. The brief response is no. To be authorized by AIFA, generic medications should go through extensive bioequivalence testing.