Pharmacy sector in dire straights

Around 1,900 pharmacies are now in a dire economic situation and, if nothing is done to reverse the situation, the problem will effect 2,400 pharmacies by the year end, said João Cordeiro, the chairman of the board of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Among the many problems that have led to the difficult situation that the pharmacy sector is experiencing, Cordeiro pointed to the reduction in the prices of medicines since 2005, the postponement of structural reforms and piecemeal legislation.

One of the measures to solve the problem is for pharmacies to commit themselves to a public expenditure ceiling on medicines of €1,180 million in the State Budget for 2012.

Cordeiro was speaking during the inauguration of the governing body of the ANF, and at the end stated to journalists that agreeing fixed remuneration will depend on the price of the individual drug.

The balance between pharmacies staying in business, and supplying reasonably priced drugs to individuals has yet to be reached.

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