Is my medicine in shortage?

A medicine is in shortage when the company marketing it cannot supply it continuously: it notifies AIFA, which adds it to its list. Search your medicine by name, active ingredient or AIC code to see since when it has been missing, when it should return, the reason and what AIFA advises.

The AIC code is the 9-digit number printed on the pack, near the barcode: it finds the exact pack. Names are in Italian, as on the pack.

Your search text reaches our server, which searches the copy of the AIFA data. We do not store it or link it to you: the response stays in the network that serves the site (CDN) for up to 6 hours, tied only to the search text.

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Shortage and unavailability

For AIFA a medicine is in shortage when the company holding the marketing authorisation (AIC holder) cannot supply it continuously across Italy. Causes include lack of the active ingredient, production problems, regulatory decisions, a sudden rise in demand or the end of marketing. The company notifies AIFA, which adds it to the list.

Unavailability is different: the medicine exists, but does not reach some areas or pharmacies because of distribution problems. In that case it does not appear on the shortage list.

If the medicine is on the list

AIFA states what to do for each pack. The main instructions are three:

  • “Per trattamento alternativo si consiglia di rivolgersi allo specialista o al MMG” (for an alternative treatment, see your specialist or GP): the doctor assesses an equivalent or another treatment, and can start an import if that exact medicine is needed.
  • “Si rilascia autorizzazione all'importazione alle strutture sanitarie” (import authorised for health facilities): the doctor fills in the AIFA form and the hospital pharmacy or the ASL handles the import of a similar medicine authorised abroad.
  • “Rilasciata determinazione per l'importazione al titolare AIC” (import authorised for the AIC holder): the company has already imported the medicine, which is collected at the hospital pharmacy or the ASL with a prescription.

If the medicine is not on the list but the pharmacy has none

The pharmacist must check with at least three wholesalers in the area. If the medicine cannot be found, the pharmacist can ask the company directly: the law requires it to deliver within 48 hours to pharmacies that request it (Legislative Decree 219/2006, art. 105(4)). The pharmacist can also report the gap to the Region, which checks and informs AIFA if needed.

Importing a medicine from abroad

AIFA does not authorise imports requested by an individual citizen. The route starts with your GP or specialist, who fills in the request form published by AIFA. The form, with the prescription and the treatment plan where required, goes to the health facility in your area (ASL or hospital pharmacy), which completes it and sends it to AIFA.

For narcotic and psychotropic medicines, imports are handled by the Ministry of Health (Central Narcotics Office).

How to read the list

The expected end is the date the company gave AIFA. The medicine stays on the list after that date until the company reports the actual end of the shortage: if the date has passed, the medicine may or may not be back. Ask at the pharmacy.

The “Equivalente” column says whether, according to AIFA, equivalent medicines are on the market in Italy. Choosing an equivalent or another treatment is up to the doctor.

AIFA updates the list at least twice a week. The site uses a copy of the AIFA file, which we refresh periodically: the date of the list used is always shown under the results. For a shortage just reported, also check the AIFA page or ask at the pharmacy.

Official sources

AIFA list of medicines in shortage of 9 October 2026 in the copy saved on the site; procedures checked against the sources above on 11 October 2026.

The tool shows the list published by AIFA and is not medical advice. Treatment decisions rest with your doctor and pharmacist. It is not an official AIFA service.

Data licence

  • List of medicines in shortage and transparency list of equivalent medicines: AIFA, Italian Medicines Agency (Open Data) · CC BY 4.0

    Changes: data reorganised for search, identical repeated rows removed, dates in ISO format, whitespace cleaned and the “¿” character in the file replaced with an apostrophe or dash. Reasons, advice and notes are AIFA's texts.

Copy of the AIFA data used by the tools: transparency list of 15 September 2026, list of medicines in shortage of 9 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean that a medicine is in shortage?

That the company holding the authorisation cannot supply it continuously in Italy and has notified AIFA. The most frequent causes on the list are production problems, high demand and the end of marketing. AIFA publishes the list with start date, expected end, reason and advice.

My medicine is not on the list but the pharmacy has none: what do I do?

It may be a local distribution gap. The pharmacist must check with at least three wholesalers; if the medicine is really missing, the pharmacist can order it directly from the company, which must deliver within 48 hours, and can report the case to the Region.

When will the medicine be available again?

The list shows the expected end given by the company, when there is one. The medicine stays on the list after that date until the company reports the actual end of the shortage: ask at the pharmacy whether it is back.

Can I have the medicine imported from abroad?

Not directly. The request starts with your doctor, who fills in the AIFA form; the form goes to the ASL or the hospital pharmacy, which sends it to AIFA. The imported medicine is usually collected at the ASL or in hospital, not at your local pharmacy.

What does “Equivalente: Sì” mean?

That according to AIFA medicines equivalent to the one in shortage are on the market in Italy. If the medicine is class A, the link “See the medicines in the same group” opens the AIFA transparency list. Choosing the equivalent is up to your doctor or pharmacist.

How often is the list updated?

AIFA updates it at least twice a week. The date of the list the tool uses is shown under the results: for the latest shortages, also check the AIFA page on medicines in shortage.