Medication news in Portugal

Generic drugs: cheaper, but do they work just as well?

Is a cheaper medication a worse medication? This is one of the most common myths about generics. Discover what changes in relation to brand-name drugs and why the price does not mean lower quality.

Pilar marks Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Day

Five-year-old girl suffers from the disease that causes constant pain and diminishes her quality of life

Obesity. PS calls for a review of the ordinance on medication

The Socialists question Ana Paula Martins about the ordinance, advocating for an expansion of prescriptions to family doctors and higher subsidies to protect low-income families.

Pharmaceutical companies must maintain free treatment

The ordinance regulating the conditions states that this provision must continue until the drugs are introduced to the market and made available through the National Health Service.

Epidermolysis bullosa: Manufacturer of Vyjuvek has submitted the funding application for the medication to Infarmed

The request was submitted last Monday

Obesity medication subsidies restrict access and exclude primary care, doctors criticise

General practitioners lamented today that the Government is being inconsistent regarding subsidies for obesity medication by restricting access, excluding primary care services, and overcrowding hospital appointments.

State to subsidise 15% of obesity medication for patients under clinical supervision

Patients must be followed by the Non-Surgical Hospital Care Unit of the Multidisciplinary Obesity Team.

New medication for cystic fibrosis approved in Portugal

A new drug designed to treat cystic fibrosis has received approval for use within Portugal.

HealthNews19 Oct

Elderly: new rules for medication co-payment for CSI beneficiaries

The 100% co-payment remains, but there are now limits to prevent the choice of more expensive drugs when cheaper alternatives exist. The decree-law comes into force this Saturday.

Injectable Nolotil will be discontinued in Portugal from February 2027

The sale of injectable Nolotil will be phased out in Portugal starting in February 2027.

Jornal SOL16 Oct

Injectable Nolotil to be withdrawn from the market in February 2027

Boehringer Ingelheim is ending the sale of the painkiller. Hospitals will be the most affected and must revise their protocols promptly.

Infarmed has already received nearly 300 reports of adverse reactions to weight loss and diabetes medications

Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, which began commercialisation in November 2024, accounts for the majority of the reports: six in 2024, 295 in 2025, and 186 up to 21 September 2026

Weight-loss drugs cause one adverse reaction per day

Infarmed has received a total of 266 notifications this year as of September 21. Vomiting, diarrhoea, and hair loss are among the potential adverse reactions identified.

Weight-loss drugs trigger one suspected adverse reaction report per day

Infarmed has received an average of one notification per day this year regarding suspected adverse reactions to weight-loss and diabetes medications, such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and hair loss, totalling 266 reports as of 21 September.

Infarmed receives one notification per day of adverse reactions to weight loss and diabetes medications

Tirzepatide, the active substance in Mounjaro, accounted for the majority of the notifications.

Spending less is not spending better: medication in the 2027 State Budget

A medication policy cannot be measured solely by the savings made. For the patient, savings only make sense if they do not delay access to better treatment.

Epidermolysis bullosa: Manufacturer of Vyjuvek has not submitted a funding request to the Portuguese State

The Ministry of Health and Infarmed express regret over the situation and state they have already met with company representatives to clarify any questions.

Feeling better and stopped your medication? It could be a mistake

“I feel fine now, so I stopped the medication.” It is a more common decision than it seems, but feeling better may precisely mean that the treatment is working. Learn when stopping can be dangerous.

Patients call for greater commitment to local medication dispensing

The Health in Dialogue platform requested faster implementation.

Offer of medication to the elderly limited to generics

The government recalls that it introduced free medication in 2024, which was previously 50% subsidised. It has now stated that the amendment to the decree aims to “promote greater use of generic medicines”.

Diabetes Society warns of risk of losing medication subsidies

At issue are constraints in the administrative update of the National User Registry.

New Wegovy pen expected to arrive in Portugal in the coming months. Find out the price

The new administration device for the weight-loss medication Wegovy is set to be available in Portugal soon; learn about the cost.

Plataforma Media11 Aug

Infarmed: Generic drug sales increased by 7.7%

Infarmed confirms a rise in sales and expenditure on generics, but their share of the total market has declined. The cause, they state, is the growth of non-generic medications.

500 pharmacies unite to provide medication to those in need

The 15th edition of the charity campaign runs until June 26th to raise support for the 'abem: Rede Solidária do Medicamento' programme. The goal is to donate change to those in need.

Weight-Loss Drug to Become Cheaper in Portugal

Novo Nordisk reduces price of obesity drug in Portugal

The pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has lowered the cost of its obesity medication within the Portuguese market.

HealthNews30 May

Novo Nordisk cuts Wegovy price by 19% for high doses

The pharmaceutical company justifies the measure with the need to expand access to obesity treatment. The 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg dosages of the obesity medication will now cost 173.98 euros and 198.53 euros.

Obesity medication price drops by 19%

One of the best-selling obesity medications will see a price reduction for higher doses starting this Monday. The 19% decrease is an initiative by the pharmaceutical company.