Do you know the classic box of OKI 80 mg granules, the sacred sachet that half of Italy keeps at home for headaches, muscle pain and feverish states? From today, or rather, from May 13th, it costs almost double and goes from €4.28 to €7.50. As mentioned, from 13 May 2026, OKI 80 mg granules for oral solution moved from band A to band C, so it is no longer reimbursed by the National Health Service and the cost falls entirely on the patient. A provision that did not arrive by decision of the AIFA, nor for reasons of safety or effectiveness, because the request came from Dompè, the company that produces the drug.
Because Dompè asked to leave group A
The logic is simple, if not immediately transparent. As long as a drug is classified in band A, the price is negotiated with the State and cannot be touched, in band C, however, the company can set it freely. Dompè did the math, asked for voluntary declassification and raised the price from 4.28 to 7.50 euros for the same pack of 30 sachets. An increase of more than 75%. It is not the first time this has happened in the Italian pharmaceutical sector, and it probably won’t be the last, the mechanism is provided for by law and is completely legal, albeit to the detriment of patients.
What changes in the pharmacy
OKI remains a drug subject to medical prescription, so you will still need a prescription (no longer the red SSN one, but the white one) to take it home. Only the price changes, which is now entirely borne by the patient, without any possibility of reimbursement. If previously it was enough to pay the ticket (or nothing, in case of exemption) today you will have to shell out 7.50 euros each time. On an annual basis, for those who use it continuously, the difference is substantial.
The equivalents remain loanable: what to ask the doctor
The good news is that the active ingredient of OKI, ketoprofen lysine salt 80 mg, is present in numerous equivalent drugs which remain classified in band A and continue to be reimbursed by the NHS. The least expensive equivalent drug is found at 2.84 euros, with a difference of almost five euros compared to the brand OKI. Reimbursability is not automatic and applies only in the conditions provided for by AIFA Note 66, which limits the prescription by the NHS to specific pathologies, such as connective tissue-based arthropathies, osteoarthritis in the painful or inflammatory phase, neoplastic pain and acute gout attack. For anyone who falls within these indications, the doctor will be able to prescribe the equivalent ketoprofen with Note 66 and you will only pay the co-payment (or nothing, if exempt).
For all others, for example people who take OKI for headaches or menstrual pain, the drug remains prescribable but at the patient’s expense. Also in this case, choosing a generic equivalent instead of branded OKI means spending around 2.84 euros instead of 7.50.
Okitask, Okidol and other formulations: what remains without a prescription
It is worth remembering that under the OKI name there is a rather complex family of products, not all of which are affected by this change. OKI 80 mg sachets were the only formulation in band A. The lower dosage formulations, such as Okitask 40 mg and OKI Pain and Fever 25 mg, are over-the-counter drugs, not subject to a prescription and already paid for entirely by the patient. Okidol, the 80 mg buccal version recently launched by Dompè, also requires no prescription and is entirely paid for by the patient. The 160 mg/2 ml injectable vials for intramuscular use remain the only OKI formulations still in band A, however intended for specific clinical contexts.
The advice
In the case of a regular prescription for OKI granules, you can go back to your GP and ask that the prescription be written with the name of the active ingredient (ketoprofen lysine salt 80 mg) instead of the trade name, and the pharmacist will offer you the equivalent available at a lower price. If the pathology falls under Note 66, the expense will return to that of the ticket, otherwise you will still pay less than before.
The updated list of class A drugs published by AIFA allows you to check at any time which equivalents to ketoprofen lysine salt are available and reimbursed. Dompè has made its calculations, now it’s up to the patients to do theirs.
