Popular Pharmacy will have more free medicines – 06/07/2023 – Health

The federal government announced this Wednesday (7th) in Pernambuco the expansion of Farmácia Popular, including contraceptives and drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis in the list of gratuities provided for in the program.

In addition, Bolsa Família beneficiaries will be able to have free access to all 40 medications in the program. The federal government also announced the resumption of accreditation of new pharmacies qualified for the program in more vulnerable municipalities.

The announcements were made by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), in Recife (PE), and by the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade. The Farmácia Popular do Brasil was created in 2004, in the PT’s first term.

This Wednesday, the president and the authorities took the opportunity to point out in speeches that the program “was stagnant” since 2016. “And it was mocked and diminished by the last government [de Jair Bolsonaro]”, said Lulu.

According to the federal government, drugs indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis and contraceptives, which were offered by Farmácia Popular at lower prices (50% discount), are now part of the free list, along with treatments for hypertension, diabetes and asthma.

According to the Ministry of Health, more than 5 million women who previously paid half the amount should benefit from the withdrawal of products at no cost.

In addition to the gratuities, the program already provides medications with discounts of up to 90% for dyslipidemia, rhinitis, Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma and geriatric diapers. In all, the benefit includes treatment for 11 diseases.

In addition, from now on, according to the federal government, the 55 million Brazilians who are beneficiaries of Bolsa Família will have access to all the medicines available in the program – there are 40 in total, for the treatment of various diseases.

To withdraw, just go to the accredited pharmacy and present the prescription, identity document and CPF. According to the federal government, recognition of the beneficiary’s bond with Bolsa Família will occur automatically by the system, without the need for prior registration.

The Ministry of Health also reported that it is resuming licenses for pharmacies, prioritizing the most vulnerable municipalities that joined Mais Médicos.

In all, 811 cities will be able to request accreditation of units in all regions of the country, 94.4% of them in the North and Northeast.

This Wednesday, during a speech, minister Nísia Trindade also indicated that her portfolio is studying free medication involving men’s health. “The issue of men, treatments for the prostate, this is an issue that we will soon move forward”, she signaled.

President Lula said that “any medicine is very expensive today” and that “the retiree cannot spend half of his salary on medicine”. “The State needs to guarantee this for it to survive,” he said.

squid in Pernambuco

Lula carries out a sequence of official agendas in Pernambuco.

On Tuesday, the president visited the Stellantis automotive hub, in Goiana, 62 kilometers from Recife, in the Zona da Mata Norte. The pole brings together suppliers representing 16 of the 34 companies in the automobile sector in Pernambuco. Stellantis is a group that brings together 14 brands.

This Wednesday, in addition to launching the new Popular Pharmacy, Lula inaugurates the new campus of the IFPE (Federal Institute of Pernambuco) in Paulista, in Greater Recife.

The governor of Pernambuco, Raquel Lyra (PSDB), accompanies Lula during the agendas. At the national level, her party opposes the president.

“Alone we are not able to face our problems”, signaled the governor this Wednesday, when thanking President Lula during a speech.

Lula’s allies, such as the mayor of Recife, João Campos (PSB), and senators Humberto Costa (PT) and Teresa Leitão (PT), were present, as well as allied federal deputies and government ministers.

The launching schedule of Popular Pharmacy took place in a space of Recife City Hall, the Peace Community Center (Compaz) Ariano Suassuna.

The Compaz are showcases for the PSB’s management in Recife. The choice of location to host the launch signals a gesture by Lula to the mayor, who seeks to consolidate an alliance with the PT to seek re-election in the 2024 municipal elections.

During a speech this Wednesday, Campos stroked the ally. He said that President Lula is succeeding in rebuilding the country. “We thought that solid policies could not be destroyed, but the former president did it,” he said. “But I feel that the time of hope is back in Brazil”.

“Lula lowered the price of gas, taxes, meat, cars, and zeroed the price of medicine,” said the ally.