Spanish Chemists

There are plenty of chemists or farmacias in Marbella and they are easy to find as you just have to look for a large green illuminated cross which is often also flashing.  They offer a great service here as Spanish pharmacists are highly trained and will provide free medical advice for common illnesses and minor ailments – making it unnecessary to visit the local GP and freeing up their time for more serious cases.

A pharmacist in Spain must own and run his own chemist as chains are not permitted in Spain. Outside regular business hours you must go to a 24 hour chemist – and you will find details of the nearest one posted on your farmacia’s door or in the local newspaper. 

Every area has to provide a 24/7 farmacia service by law.

Farmacias offer the same range of products as any other country and will usually dispense prescription drugs without a prescription as long as you have the generic name, chemical composition and dosage.

If you pay into the Spanish Social Security system you will be asked to pay 40% of the cost of medicines when you are given a prescription:  they are free to pensioners or the disabled. Prescription medicines in Spain are among the cheapest in the EU, but some chemists add a huge mark-up on over the counter non-prescription items like painkillers, cough medicines and eye drops. Many chemists also stock alternative medicines like homeopathic and herbal remedies.

You will also see a large number of parafarmacias on the Costa del Sol.  These are still chemists but they do not dispense prescription drugs, and offers over the counter drugs, along with a lot of the basics like shampoo, soap, face and body creams.