Getting a prescription used to mean booking an appointment, waiting weeks, and taking time off to sit in a waiting room. In 2026, for many non-urgent situations, this is no longer the only option.
Italy's Ministry of Health Telemedicine Guidelines (2022) recognize asynchronous consultations: the patient writes a description of their situation, and a licensed doctor reviews it and responds in writing, without a live video call or in-person visit. This model works well for renewing an existing treatment, requesting a prescription for a common condition, or getting a written medical opinion.
This approach is particularly useful if you cannot get a timely appointment with a family doctor, if you live in an area with limited medical availability, if you work irregular hours, or if you are an Italian citizen living abroad who still needs access to Italian prescriptions and medical guidance.
The result is a real document: a signed PDF prescription, valid in any Italian pharmacy, that you can save, print, or forward as needed. It is a private prescription, not a public healthcare system prescription, so the cost of the medication itself is not subsidized, but the trade-off is speed and accessibility.
Controlled substances and medications under strict regulatory limits still require an in-person evaluation. Complex new diagnoses that require a physical examination cannot be handled through writing alone, and a responsible doctor will tell you when this is the case rather than issuing a prescription regardless.
Rather than paying per single request, services like Medico Subito offer an annual subscription that includes multiple requests per month, so you can build a relationship with the same doctor over time instead of starting from scratch with someone new every time.