Find a pharmacy in Sciacca
Sciacca is a coastal town of roughly 40,000 residents on the south-western shore of Sicily, in the province of Agrigento, and PillsCard's directory lists nine verified pharmacies serving the comune. The catchment is broader than the resident headcount suggests: Sciacca draws patients from the surrounding agricultural hinterland (Caltabellotta, Menfi, Ribera) and absorbs a meaningful summer influx tied to the thermal-spa tradition and the fishing port. Pharmacies cluster around the historic centre near Piazza Angelo Scandaliato and along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele axis, with secondary nodes near the Giovanni Paolo II hospital on Via Pompei and along the Via Licata corridor running toward the eastern residential expansion. There is no university student population to speak of, but seasonal tourism from northern Italy and Malta lifts demand from June through September.
The local market is fragmented and overwhelmingly independent — there are no large national chains operating under a single banner here, which is typical of small Sicilian towns where farmacie comunali and family-run titolari dominate. Farmacia Brunetto Maria Concetta and Farmacia Cusmano Maria Concetta anchor the central district near the cathedral, while Farmacia Via Licata and Farmacia Porta Palermo serve the arteries leading out toward the SS115. Farmacia Di Prima and Farmacia Tagliavia Francesco operate in the denser residential pockets, and Farmacia Tulone covers the area closer to the port. Several outlets stock galenical preparations and veterinary lines reflecting the agricultural surroundings, and most coordinate informally with the hospital pharmacy at the Ospedale Giovanni Paolo II for specialist dispensing.
Pricing & coverage
Prescription medicines dispensed under the SSN carry a regional ticket (compartecipazione) that in Sicily typically ranges from €1 to €4 per package for exempt categories and up to €5 for non-exempt adults, with generics often fully covered. Over-the-counter analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen run €3–€8, a standard antibiotic course €6–€15 with prescription, and basic blood-pressure or glucose checks at the counter €3–€10. Vaccinations administered in-pharmacy (influenza, COVID-19 boosters for eligible adults) are generally free under SSN entitlement. Pricing and reimbursement bands are set nationally by AIFA; the Sicilian region publishes ticket exemptions through ASP Agrigento.
Emergencies & out-of-hours care
Sciacca operates a turno notturno e festivo rota coordinated by the provincial Ordine dei Farmacisti of Agrigento — the duty pharmacy is posted on the door of every farmacia and in the windows of the comune. Outside opening hours, prescriptions and urgent OTC needs are handled by whichever pharmacy holds the night shift, with a small supplemento notturno surcharge. For acute medical or dental emergencies, the Pronto Soccorso at Ospedale Giovanni Paolo II on Via Pompei is the reference facility; the Guardia Medica covers non-life-threatening overnight calls. Dial 118 for medical emergencies or 112 for the unified European emergency number.
Frequently asked questions
Do Sciacca pharmacies open on Sundays? Most close on Sundays and public holidays, but the rotating duty system guarantees at least one pharmacy is open 24 hours. The current turno is published weekly by the Comune di Sciacca and the Federfarma Agrigento provincial board, and is displayed on the shutter of every closed pharmacy. In summer months several central pharmacies near Piazza Scandaliato extend Saturday afternoon hours to cover the tourist trade.
Can I get a foreign prescription filled in Sciacca? EU prescriptions issued on the cross-border template are accepted at any Sciacca pharmacy. Non-EU prescriptions require validation by a local medico di base or by the Guardia Medica before dispensing — pharmacies cannot dispense controlled substances on a foreign script alone. Bring the original prescription, photo ID, and where possible the generic (INN) name of the medicine.
Is the tessera sanitaria needed for OTC purchases? No — over-the-counter medicines, cosmetics and parapharmacy items can be bought without the tessera sanitaria. The card is only required for SSN-reimbursed prescriptions and for issuing the scontrino parlante used for IRPEF tax deductions on healthcare spending.
Are there English-speaking pharmacists in Sciacca? Several central pharmacies have at least one staff member with working English, driven by Mediterranean tourist traffic, but this is not guaranteed. Visitors are advised to bring the active-ingredient name rather than a brand name, as Italian trade names often differ.
Which pharmacy is closest to the thermal baths area? Pharmacies along the eastern Via Licata corridor and Farmacia Pace are the nearest verified outlets to the historic Terme di Sciacca zone above the town.
Safety note
This directory is informational only and is not medical advice. For individual clinical decisions, dosage queries or drug-interaction concerns, consult a licensed pharmacist or your medico di base in person.