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On 16/08, more than 1 million Brazilians from all corners of the country benefited from the merger of the Bolsa Família and Farmácia Popular programs. Both programs underwent reforms under the current administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) at the beginning of this year, 2023.
In fact, neither program is new, but the administration chose to integrate them. The proposal consisted of making 40 Farmácia Popular medications available at no cost to Bolsa Família members. As a result, participants gained easier access to free medications.
Official information indicates that approximately 290 million medications and diapers are available to the public through this social program. Approximately 1.3 million Bolsa Família members have already visited partner pharmacies to obtain free medications since the integration began.
Overall, including those who are not Bolsa Família participants, it is estimated that more than 18 million individuals have benefited in some way from Farmácia Popular. The current administration chose to expand the program and introduce several new guidelines.
Bolsa Família and Farmácia Popular Updates
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Farmácia Popular, a federal government initiative, aims to serve individuals in socially vulnerable situations. Its core purpose is to provide medications free of charge or at discounted prices at participating locations. This objective remains unchanged.
However, the federal administration has introduced innovations to the program. See below.
- Bolsa Família
The most significant change is that all medications are now free for Bolsa Família beneficiaries. Previously, these citizens had access to certain medications free of charge and others at a discount. Now, all medicines are available at no cost to the program’s more than 20 million members.
- Women’s health
Another addition is the provision of new free medications for women. Previously, this group could obtain osteoporosis medications and contraceptives at discounted prices. Currently, these items are available at no cost.
- Indigenous peoples
Similarly to Bolsa Família beneficiaries, all Farmácia Popular medications have become free for Indigenous peoples. “To facilitate access, a community representative will be selected to collect the recommended medications. Therefore, it is not necessary to have a CPF to benefit from the program,” informs the Ministry of Health.
List of medications
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But, after all, which medications are offered by Farmácia Popular? See the current list of free medications made available in this updated stage of Farmácia Popular.
Asthma
- ipratropium bromide (0.02 mg and 0.25 mg);
- beclomethasone dipropionate (50 mcg, 200 mcg and 250 mcg);
- salbutamol sulfate (100 mcg and 5 mg).
Diabetes
- metformin hydrochloride (500 mg, with and without extended-release action, and 850 mg);
- glibenclamide (5 mg);
- regular human insulin (100 IU/ml);
- human insulin (100 IU/ml).
Hypertension
- atenolol (25 mg);
- amlodipine besylate (5 mg);
- captopril (25 mg);
- propranolol hydrochloride (40 mg);
- hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg);
- losartan potassium (50 mg);
- enalapril maleate (10 mg);
- spironolactone (25 mg);
- furosemide (40 mg);
- metoprolol succinate (25 ml).
Below, see the medications that now have a discount through the Farmácia Popular program. It is worth remembering that, for Bolsa Família beneficiaries and Indigenous peoples, the medications on this list are also free.
Contraceptives
- medroxyprogesterone acetate (150 mg);
- ethinylestradiol (0.03 mg) + levonorgestrel (0.15 mg);
- norethisterone (0.35 mg);
- estradiol valerate (5 mg) + norethisterone enanthate (50 mg).
Dyslipidemia
- (high cholesterol): simvastatin (10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg)
Parkinson's disease
- carbidopa (25 mg) + levodopa (250 mg);
- benserazide hydrochloride (25 mg) + levodopa (100 mg)
Glaucoma
- timolol maleate (2.5 mg and 5 mg)
Incontinence
- adult diapers
Osteoporosis
- sodium alendronate (70 mg)
Rhinitis
- budesonide (32 mg and 50 mg);
- beclomethasone dipropionate (50 mcg/dose)
Type 2 diabetes + cardiovascular disease (> 65 years)
- dapagliflozin (10 mg)
