I was one of the few lucky people that didn't get sick growing up. Even now as an adult, I only find myself getting the occasional cold or runny nose, and that's only once or twice a year at most. Since arriving in Italy, I've been sick more times than I care to admit. I'm sure it most likely has something to do with the changes in the atmosphere, time adjustments, weather conditions, etc. Because of these instances, though, I've found myself becoming more and more familiar with the ins-and-outs of the Italian pharmacies.
The first thing a person traveling to Italy from the U.S. should know is that a farmacia (pharmacy) is not your everyday CVS or Walmart pharmacy section. These shops, often very small and very old, are marked by a bight, neon-green cross that hangs above each of the entrances. There are no Fast Pace or Urgent Care clinics here, because if you're sick you simply head down to the farmacia, describe your symptoms to the doctor and voilà; you've got yourself a prescription for wellness in less than five minutes. The next best part is even without traditional insurance, you almost never pay more than € 10 (~$12) for the medicine you need.
A thing that most people from the U.S. might find unusual about the farmacia is that this is where you will find most beauty and skincare products as well. You can find sunscreen, face wash, shampoo and even some types of makeup all tucked away in the cabinets waiting to be purchased. While most people don't end up buying them at the farmacia, it's interesting to see all of these items lined up next to boxes of foreign-labeled medicine.
There are actual doctor's offices as well, of course, but people don't usually go to them unless they know they need an actual diagnosis from a doctor. Even these trips aren't damaging to the wallet. A trip to the doctor for our group costs no more than €40 (~$45) for the whole ordeal, and with that our insurance simply takes the receipt and pays us back. Overall it's a pretty efficient deal compared to most doctors back home. There's also the option of the emergency care (ER) at the hospital, but this option is usually considered a last resort unless, of course, it's an emergency or a day out of the weekend. Like back home, it's likely to also take you a good few hours at the minimum and set you back a pretty penny until insurance can take care of everything.
It doesn't seem like a pharmacy would be something to write about, but after the many trips to the farmacia I've had to take, It's been really eye opening to see just a little bit about what healthcare is like in another country.