Did You Know? The Vatican Has a Pharmacy

In the heart of Vatican City lies a unique institution that has been dispensing medications and providing healthcare services for nearly 150 years: the Vatican Pharmacy.

Founded in 1874 by Eusebio Ludvig Fronmen, a Fatebenefratelli monk, the pharmacy has been operating diligently, making it the world’s busiest pharmacy with about 2,000 customers served daily.

What makes the Vatican Pharmacy truly unique is not just its location within the world’s smallest sovereign state, but its ability to carry medicines that are otherwise hard to find or even unavailable in Italy due to the country’s complex drug approval process. This often leads to the pharmacy having access to medicines months or even years ahead of Italian pharmacies.

Furthermore, the Vatican Pharmacy is known for its own production of certain ointments and potions that are distributed directly from their premises just outside St. Peter’s Square. Not only does the pharmacy serve Vatican employees, residents, and the thousands of pilgrims who visit each year, but it also plays a vital role in providing medical assistance during papal trips and operates a mobile clinic to serve the poor.

Managed by director Binish Thomas Mulackal, also a Fatebenefratelli monk, and a staff of both religious and laypeople, the pharmacy operates under the Directorate of Health Services, one of eight Vatican City directorates.

The Vatican Pharmacy’s ability to fill foreign prescriptions sets it apart from Italian pharmacies, making it an invaluable resource for the international community that frequents the Vatican.

Steeped in history and deeply connected to the Vatican’s mission of service, the Vatican Pharmacy stands as a testament to the city-state’s dedication to healthcare and wellness.

It’s not just a pharmacy; it is an integral part of Vatican City’s heart and soul!