Association suggested to the government that retailers start selling medicines without a prescription to reduce food prices; pharmaceutical entities criticized
The (Brazilian Association of Supermarkets) responded this Thursday (23.jan.2025) to the position of the (Brazilian Association of Pharmacy and Drugstore Chains), saying that this “is concerned with maintaining the market reserve and, consequently, the profits of pharmacies”. Eis a do text (PDF – 79 kB).
Abrafarma, in turn, proposed selling medicines that do not require a prescription in supermarkets. The retail representative took the measure as a suggestion to the government to reduce food inflation.
In a note, Abras argued that the objective is “reduce drug prices”. He stated that, when sales in supermarkets were authorized, prices fell by 35%, according to Nielsen research.
The president of Abrafarma, Sérgio Mena Barreto, had criticized the proposal. He said that the sale of MIPs (over-the-counter medicines) by supermarkets would cause a “economic imbalance”as the products correspond to 30% of sales in pharmacies.
“In the 93,000 Brazilian pharmacies, which cover 99% of the country’s cities, we generate 2 million direct jobs; 56,000 pharmacies opt for Simples/micro-enterprises”these. “Approving MIPs in supermarkets, just to give them ANOTHER sales category, is causing economic imbalance in a sector that works well and is highly respected around the world”he completed.
Barreto also argued that the cost of operating a pharmacy is high with rent, salaries, stocks and others. He said the measure would have a rebound effect of increasing the prices of prescription medicines, negatively impacting the population, especially the poorest. Pharmacies say MIPs have risks and may require specific indication. He stated that in 68% of cases the customer clarifies their doubts with the pharmacist. Read the note (PDF – 58 kB).
“Who is going to answer these questions in the supermarket? The butcher? The baker? The cashier?”asked Barreto. “It will be regrettable that, in a government that has always put people’s health in first place, the ‘mark’ of this Lula 2023-2026 administration will be the destruction of pharmacies, the increase in self-medication and the worsening of chronic diseases in the population”he completed.
The president (PT) on Monday (20 January), during the 1st ministerial meeting of 2025, said that ministers have to work to lower food prices. The Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, on Wednesday (22 January) that the government is working on measures to make food cheaper.
As reported in the newspaper Abras would have suggested that the government sell medicines in supermarkets to help reduce food prices.
