Study: Portugal lags in access to medicines
A new index from the association Equalmed finds Portugal spends the least on pharmaceuticals per citizen among its reference countries and has the lowest equity in access to medicines; the report estimates about 1,577 potentially avoidable deaths annually if Portugal matched France’s access level. The coverage also notes Portuguese households pay a high share of medicine costs out of pocket and that barriers leave serious gaps in availability. The findings come from the Index of Equity in Access to Medication compiled by Equalmed and were reported across national outlets. Those with chronic conditions or who regularly buy prescriptions should check cost‑sharing rules and ask their GP about alternatives.
Equalmed is a Portuguese non-profit association that researches access to medicines, drug pricing and pharmaceutical spending. Its recent study found Portugal has the lowest pharmaceutical expenditure per citizen among reference countries and estimated 1,577 deaths from treatable conditions in one year linked to access gaps; its findings feed debates that can affect drug prices and prescription costs.
The Index of Equity in Access to Medication (Índice de Equidade no Acesso a Medicamentos) is a measure used in the Equalmed study to compare how fairly countries fund and price medicines. It uses indicators such as per‑capita drug spending, the share of the health budget on medicines and price‑setting practices to rank countries, which helps policymakers spot gaps that may affect availability and patient outcomes.