Bolsa Família beneficiaries will have free access to 40 medicines at the Popular Pharmacy
The program was resumed with a significant increase in the free availability of medicines, in addition to the accreditation of new units in 811 municipalities with greater vulnerability. Now, in addition, contraceptives and treatments for osteoporosis will be offered free of charge to the entire population.
Photo Reproduction / Marcello Casal jr/Agência Brasil
The Popular Pharmacy Program, relaunched by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Recife this Wednesday (7), will allow Bolsa Familia beneficiaries free access to the 40 medicines available. This measure aims to expand pharmaceutical assistance to a total of 55 million Brazilians.
According to the president, the government's intention is to progressively expand the inclusion of new drugs in the list of resources provided by the program, providing opportunities for people to live longer and be able to cure their illnesses. This is mainly because the costs associated with treating illnesses are currently high, making any remedy a considerable expense.
"No one goes to the doctor to get a diagnosis. No one goes to the doctor to just get the prescription. We go to the doctor because we want the diagnosis, we want the prescription and we want to buy the medicine to cure the diagnosis given by the doctor. doctor," said Lula.
The medications
Currently, the medications present in the program are classified into two distinct categories. A part of the list is provided free of charge, while the other part receives a 90% discount over the prices listed in commercial pharmacies. Among the drugs that were previously only subsidized and that will now be made available free of charge to beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família program, are:
four contraceptives;
two types of treatment for Parkinson's disease;
three presentations of simvastatin, used to control cholesterol;
three alternatives to control rhinitis;
geriatric diapers.
The 22 medications for controlling asthma, diabetes and hypertension continue to be offered free of charge to all citizens by the Popular Pharmacy program. There will be no changes to this list of freely available drugs.
Register
According to the government, individuals who receive Bolsa Família no need to register again to get medicine for free. The Popular Pharmacy system will be responsible for identifying the beneficiary. To purchase the medicine, the beneficiary only needs to go to an accredited pharmacy and present the medical prescription, together with an identity document and CPF. Recognition of the beneficiary's association with Bolsa Família will be done automatically by the system, eliminating the need for prior registration.
Reformulation
In 2004, the Popular Pharmacy was established, with the purpose of ensuring continuity of treatment of diseases by providing free or discounted medication and geriatric diapers. In the last year, approximately 20 million individuals benefited from the Popular Pharmacy program. This number represents a reduction of almost 9 million assistants compared to that registered in 2015, the year that had the highest volume of resources directed to the modalities with and without co-payment.
Second information from Cuida Brasil, the decrease in the number of benefited individuals is associated with the reduction of investments over the years. The government plans to also announce today the implementation of the Popular Pharmacy program in indigenous communities, allowing them to designate a representative to obtain medicines without the need to inform the CPF. This new program approach will initially be tested in a pilot project in the Yanomami region of Roraima, according to government officials.
How to withdraw medication
To obtain the medicine, the beneficiary must go to an accredited pharmacy and provide the medical prescription, as well as identity documents and CPF. The system will automatically recognize the connection of the beneficiary with the Bolsa Família program, with no need for prior registration. To acquire free or discounted medication through the Popular Pharmacy program, the patient must look for an accredited establishment, such as pharmacies and drugstores that display the seal "Aqui tem Farmácia Popular".
To request the removal of geriatric diapers, the individual must be over 60 years old or have a disability, in addition to presenting a prescription, report or certificate proving the need to use the diapers. If the patient is unable to attend the pharmacy in person, a legal representative or attorney-in-fact can collect the medication on their behalf. This person must carry the medical prescription and official documents of the recipient of the products.
