The medical prescription or authorisation in Italy partially (sometimes fully) covers (paid by the NHS) the cost of buying some medicines, in particular group A medicines (pharmaceutical specialties of groups C and C-bis must be paid in full by the citizen).
The medical prescription is compiled and signed by a physician, usually one’s family doctor. The citizen takes the prescription to the chemists and must pay only the ticket quota (or subscription charge).
Other medicines, including group A medicines, can be bought without a prescription. In such cases the full price of the product is payable.