Find a pharmacy in Parma
Parma's pharmacy network serves roughly 200,000 residents across the historic centre, the Oltretorrente quarter, and the expanding northern and southern suburbs that have grown around the food-industry corridor and the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria. The city also hosts a substantial student population tied to the University of Parma, one of Italy's oldest, along with researchers and visiting clinicians linked to EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) headquartered here since 2005. PillsCard lists 20 verified pharmacies, with the densest concentration along Via Emilia and around Piazza Garibaldi, plus reliable cover in Lubiana, Cittadella, and the Molinetto district. Sunday and overnight rotations are coordinated through Federfarma Parma, which sustains continuous access even when most independent shops close mid-afternoon for the traditional lunch break.
Ownership in Parma is almost entirely independent rather than chain-driven, a pattern typical of Emilia-Romagna where municipal and family-run farmacie dominate. Farmacia Zarotto anchors the eastern approach near the Stadio Tardini, while Farmacia Guareschi and San Paolo serve the dense central grid around the Duomo and Battistero. Contini and Allegri cover residential pockets between the railway station and the Parco Ducale, and Farmacia XXII Luglio is a long-standing reference point near the namesake street just off the ring road. Smaller neighbourhood outlets such as Baganza, Pirani, Equì, and Corradini round out cover in San Leonardo, Montanara, and the Crocetta. Several pharmacies maintain informal links with the Maggiore hospital pharmacy for galenic preparations and unusual orders.
Pricing & coverage
Prescription medicines dispensed under the SSN carry a regional ticket in Emilia-Romagna ranging from €1 to €4 per package, with full exemption for low-income, chronic, and over-65 patients meeting income thresholds. Over-the-counter items are unregulated: a paracetamol pack runs €3–€6, a generic ibuprofen €4–€8, and a standard antibiotic course (when prescribed privately) €8–€20. Rapid antigen tests cost €10–€15, while a blood-pressure check or INR finger-prick measurement is typically €5–€12. Pricing rules and reimbursement classifications are set nationally by AIFA, with regional top-ups managed by Regione Emilia-Romagna.
Emergencies & out-of-hours care
Parma operates a servizio di turno rota published weekly by Federfarma and posted on every pharmacy door; one or two outlets stay open 24 hours, most reliably Farmacia Comunale at the Stazione Centrale. For genuine medical emergencies — chest pain, severe allergic reaction, suspected stroke — call 118 (or the unified European 112) and expect transport to the Pronto Soccorso of the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma on Via Gramsci. For non-urgent overnight needs between 20:00 and 08:00 or on weekends, the Guardia Medica (continuity-of-care service) is reachable through the local AUSL Parma switchboard.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a prescription filled in Parma with a foreign doctor's note?
EU prescriptions issued on the cross-border template are accepted directly at any Parma pharmacy, provided they show the prescriber's full credentials, the patient's identifiers, and the active ingredient (INN). Non-EU prescriptions usually require revalidation by an Italian physician — the Guardia Medica or a private GP can issue an equivalent. Controlled substances always need an Italian ricetta regardless of origin. Most central pharmacies near the University and EFSA handle foreign documents routinely and have English-speaking staff.
Do Parma pharmacies offer vaccinations?
Yes. Since 2023, Italian pharmacies have been authorised to administer influenza, COVID-19, and certain adult booster vaccinations to people aged 12 and over. In Parma, participating outlets are listed on the AUSL Parma website and on Federfarma's regional portal. Travel vaccinations (yellow fever, typhoid) still require the AUSL international travel clinic on Strada del Quartiere. Pharmacy vaccinations cost €6–€10 plus the vaccine if not SSN-covered, and most accept walk-ins during weekday afternoons.
Are there pharmacies open on Sundays in Parma?
Always at least three, rotating weekly under the Federfarma turno. The schedule is printed in Gazzetta di Parma, posted on every pharmacy door, and available via the AUSL Parma app. Centrally, Farmacia Comunale Stazione and the pharmacy inside the Maggiore hospital provide continuous Sunday cover. Outside the rota, Sunday-morning openings are common in the historic centre for tourist trade, particularly around Piazza Garibaldi and Strada Farini.
Where can I get a COVID or flu test in Parma?
Rapid antigen testing is available at most pharmacies displaying the green cross with a tampone sticker — roughly 15 of the 20 directory entries. Results take 15 minutes and cost €10–€15. Molecular PCR tests require booking through the AUSL Parma drive-through at Maggiore hospital or a private laboratory such as those on Via Spalato. Travel-certificate formats in English are issued on request, usually at no extra charge from pharmacies accustomed to the EFSA expatriate community.
Do Parma pharmacies prepare custom medications?
Several do. Galenica (compounding) is a traditional strength of Emilia-Romagna pharmacies, and outlets including Farmacia Guareschi and San Paolo maintain laboratory facilities for custom dosages, paediatric suspensions, and dermatological preparations. Expect 24–72 hours for preparation and pricing between €15 and €60 depending on the formula. A physician's prescription specifying the formulation is mandatory.
Safety note
This directory is informational only and is not medical advice. For individual clinical decisions, consult a licensed pharmacy or physician in Parma.