Latest news and stories about medication in Portugal for expats and residents.
The suspension of exports is intended to ensure the supply of the national market and applies to all participants in the supply chain, including manufacturers.
Doctors will no longer be able to invoke the continuity of treatment for more than 28 days to lock prescriptions. The change aims to expand the use of cheaper drugs and reduce expenses for families and the State.
Weight loss and diabetes medications remain key drivers for the pharmaceutical industry. In a critical market, Novo Nordisk has lost two patents in recent days, now facing competition from lower-priced generics. Founded in Denmark, Novo Nordisk manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy, two high-demand drugs globally. India is a major market, with over 300 million people overweight or obese and 100 million suffering from diabetes. Novo Nordisk's patents in India for these drugs expired on Friday, March 20. Consequently, at least five local pharmaceutical companies have launched their own generics, with price reductions of up to 80%, according to CNBC. The move by other firms was anticipated, with Novo Nordisk having already lowered the price of Wegovy by 37% in December 2025 compared to its launch price in India. The pharmaceutical giant currently remains the market leader in the country. More generics are expected in the short to medium term, likely contributing to a projected decline in the Danish company's sales in 2026 compared to the previous year, not only in India. In February, the company reported an expected global revenue reduction of between 5% and 13%. Pharmaceutical production is expected to slow in 2026 despite the sector's financial health. Inspections of diabetes medications have led to 19 referrals to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The SPC reminds that obesity is a chronic disease associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular issues.
A study shows that the drugs, rather than acting on the brain's attention circuits as long believed, primarily target the brain's reward and wakefulness centres.
Until December 26, in around 600 pharmacies across the country, the public is invited to donate their change to the Abem Program, which assists people who cannot afford to buy medication.
