People who continually use medications will be most affected by the annual adjustment | Photo: Flavio Tavares / O TEMPO
You drug prices will rise from Monday, April 1st, nationwide. The adjustment should be 4.5%, however, this index has not yet been confirmed by the Medicines Market Regulation Chamber (CMED), a body linked to the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).
This week before the adjustment, several drugstore chains are campaigning on their websites with promotions and warning customers to make purchases before the adjustment and avoid buying medicines at higher prices.
“Purchase your medicines in advance before the price increases! With the annual adjustment by the Ministry of Health, the price will rise”, says Droga Raia on its website, also promising up to 90% discount on some products.
Drogaria Araujo also has a statement on the official website. “The government announced an increase in drug prices from 04/01/2024. Buy now and save.” The company offers discounts of up to 35% for those who purchase some types of medicine this week.
People who continually use medications will be most affected by this annual adjustment. “Increasing drug prices can have an impact on the family budget, especially in families with retirees, pensioners and people who take continuous medication”, says Carla Beni, economist and MBA professor at Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV).
But there are some ways to prevent the impact of the adjustment from being so high on the budget, according to the expert. “It is important to look for some alternatives, such as popular pharmacies, which have different prices, in addition to researching prices on the internet, where there are usually discounts and better conditions”.
Another tip from the teacher is to try to get some free medicine on the public network. “The person can seek the supply of medications at health centers that city halls and health centers normally provide. The list of medications for continuous use is long. So this is important to mitigate the impact of medicine prices on family budgets”, she concludes.
Understand the adjustment in drug prices
The increase in drug prices is annual and takes into account a calculation that considers inflation in the period measured by the Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA), which was 4.5% in February in the last 12 months.
The adjustment comes into force on April 1st, after the publication of the Cmed resolution in the Official Gazette of the Union. However, the adjustment is not immediate, as it depends on each pharmacy and pharmaceutical industry.
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