More than half of pharmacies have fewer medications than they should. Concerned laboratories profit margins and vulgarization of some products.
A Lack of drugs in pharmacies It is a reality in Portugal. The annual report on the management of drug availability that, last year, more than half of pharmacies recorded drugs.
By “lack of medicines”, it is understood a period when it is not possible to satisfy the prescription in less than 12 hours.
In 2025 the situation remains. In fact, when new data are published, the panorama should still be worse than in 2024.
Os products in which it is registered greatest scarcity These are: drugs for diabetes, hyperactivity and attention deficit; beyond medical devices.
Some highlight some Antidiabetics, that are missing for longer. This is because demand has increased since they began to be used to lose weight.
“It was found that one of the consequences is also the decrease in weight. Therefore, decreasing appetite makes the person decrease weight and, therefore, all obese or many obese who are under treatment also have this molecule as a advised treatment. Of course there will be scarcity because the production quota had an end, and it has two purposes“Explains the vice president of the Portugal Pharmacy Association (AFP), Manuela Pacheco.
Na, Manuela Pacheco argues that these antidiabetics should only have reimbursement – or a different reimbursement – if they were prescribed by doctors of the specialty. I.e, Avoid abusive prescription of these products.
“An endocrinologist who is spending the prescription to his patient who has diabetes and who needs to control it with these antidiabetics had a reimbursement and if it is for obesity would have another,” he explained.
Another problem is related to blood glucose measurement sensors: “We are aware that these sensors are also distributed and sold in the gyms, because they are often used for sportsmen. To get a sense of your performance”. They are exhausted in pharmacies because many sensors are being used by sportsmen and gym customers to control their sports performance.
And then the question of Laboratory profit margins“If I have a laboratory, which even produces any part of Europe or Asia, it goes to a market and will have a margin, and goes to another market and will have another margin, of course the lab produces for all – but it will have a much larger interest in one than in another.”
The vice president of AFP warns that, If there is no prices review In this type of medicines, “this can decrease the attractiveness of the industry to market these products in our country.”
O Infarmed is already checking if drugs and sensors for diabetes are being used for other functions – And this limits access to the same products by patients. Want to see if there is deviations or abusive prescription.
