From 2026, Italian pharmacies will be transformed into health prevention points spread across the territory, with the possibility of carrying out laboratory tests which until last year were reserved for hospitals and specialized centres. The innovation arises from the reform of the new pharmaceutical services, which aims to make basic diagnostics and some advanced screening more accessible for all citizens.
What tests can be done
Until 2025, in pharmacies it was mainly possible to do self-diagnosis tests, such as blood sugar or cholesterol. With the new implementing decree, however, the over 19 thousand Italian pharmacies will be able to offer a wider range of clinical tests, including kidney and liver function checks, blood tests for hormones, cardiac markers and rapid oncological screening for tumors such as prostate or colorectal cancer. All reports will be official and available for consultation in the electronic health record, ensuring continuity with the traditional medical process.
According to Federfarma, around 500 million laboratory analyzes are carried out in Italy every year. The reform aims to transfer at least 15% of these tests to pharmacies, reducing queues and waiting times. The measure represents a turning point especially for those living with chronic pathologies, such as diabetes, who will be able to benefit from more frequent checks and immediate results without moving from their neighborhoods.
Pilot projects will start soon
The regions will have the task of defining which tests can be carried out in the pharmacy and how the reimbursement of costs will be managed. Pharmacies will have to equip themselves with reserved spaces and equipment compliant with safety and quality standards, avoiding the risk of improvised or unreliable diagnostics. The first pilot projects will start in the coming months in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Lazio, to test the organization and management of the new services.
With this reform, pharmacies will no longer be just points of sale of medicines, but true local health hubs, capable of simplifying access to prevention and ensuring constant monitoring of health. The widespread diffusion across the territory could change the way in which Italians manage routine tests, improving the timeliness of diagnoses and the quality of life of patients.
You might also be interested in:
