Italy made PrEP a Class A (Fascia A) drug in late 2023, meaning the medication itself is fully funded by the SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale). This is a significant change — before 2023, PrEP cost approximately €60–100 per month out of pocket. Now the medication is free. The catch: you need an infectious disease specialist's prescription, and waiting lists at public centres can be long. Community Checkpoints are the fast track.
The Key Facts
- PrEP medication: free (SSN Fascia A)
- Prescription required from an Infettivologo (infectious disease specialist) at an authorised centre
- Monitoring tests (blood, HIV, STIs): may have a ticket (co-pay) depending on your region and exemptions
- Cannot be prescribed by a GP — must be an authorised Malattie Infettive centre
Step 1: Find Your Centre
Use prepinfo.it — Italy's PrEP information and centre-finder. This is the authoritative national resource, maintained by the community. It maps all authorised PrEP prescribing centres by region and city.
Fast-track options:
- BLQ Checkpoint (Bologna): Has a direct fast-track to Sant'Orsola Hospital for PrEP prescriptions. Contact BLQ first.
- Milano Checkpoint: Can navigate you to nearby centres with shorter waiting lists.
- Roma Checkpoint: Connected to Spallanzani — ask them about the fastest current route.
Step 2: Book an Appointment
Route A — Direct booking: Some Malattie Infettive centres allow you to email or call directly for a PrEP appointment. Ask the Checkpoint in your city which centres allow this — it can save weeks versus the CUP route.
Route B — Via CUP: For other centres, you need an impegnativa (prescription/referral) from your medico di base (GP) for "valutazione per PrEP" (PrEP assessment), then call the CUP (Centro Unico Prenotazioni — central booking) to book with the specialist.
Step 3: First Visit
Your infettivologo will:
- Confirm HIV negativity (HIV test required)
- Check kidney function (creatinina)
- Screen for STIs and hepatitis B
- Prescribe tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC or TAF/FTC)
The prescription is then dispensed at the hospital pharmacy (farmacia ospedaliera) — not a regular pharmacy. This is where the free medication is distributed.
Monitoring (Every 3 Months)
Ongoing monitoring includes: HIV test, STI screen, kidney function check. You'll return to your Malattie Infettive centre every three months. The monitoring tests may have a ticket (co-pay) — this varies by region. In some regions, PrEP monitoring tests are exempt from ticket.
On-Demand PrEP (2-1-1)
On-demand dosing — 2 tablets 2–24 hours before sex, then 1 tablet for 2 days after — is an evidence-based alternative to daily PrEP for people who don't have sex frequently. Discuss with your infettivologo whether this suits your pattern. It significantly reduces the total medication used.
See PrEP Mechanics for full detail on both approaches.
For Visitors and Tourists
EU citizens with an EHIC card are covered for medically necessary SSN care. However, PrEP as a prevention measure for tourists is unlikely to be dispensed via the SSN. If you're visiting Italy and need PrEP for a short trip, bring your own medication from your home country. If you'll be in Italy long-term (residency, work), register with the SSN and access PrEP through the system.
Key Resource
prepinfo.it — the single most important website for PrEP access in Italy. Updated map of authorised centres, vaccine hubs, and contact information.