Can prosciutto ham be eaten without cooking?

If you cannot find something in the store labelled "parma ham", look for "prosciutto". As far as substitutes go, if you are using thin slices to wrap around asparagus or melon, for example, there isn't really a good substitute. If you have a recipe calling for diced parma ham to be, for example, sauteed in a pan as a flavoring enhancement for a dish, you could substitute a good quality bacon or perhaps Canadian bacon.