The PFPB (Brazilian Popular Pharmacy Program) is a Federal Government program that aims to complement the availability of medicines used in Primary Health Care, the first level of care in the SUS (Unified Health System).
The program works through partnerships with private pharmacies and drugstores. With this, citizens can obtain medicines and other items for free or at a reduced price in these establishments, in addition to UBSs (Basic Health Units) and municipal pharmacies.
Farmácia Popular provides free medicines for the treatment of diabetes, asthma and hypertension, as well as osteoporosis and contraceptives for women.
The program also offers subsidized medication for dyslipidemia, rhinitis, Parkinson’s disease and glaucoma, in addition to geriatric diapers. In these cases, the Ministry of Health pays up to 90% of the value of medicines and the citizen pays the remainder, according to the price charged by the pharmacy.
Who has access to the program?
Medicines for diabetes, asthma and hypertension, which are offered free of charge by Farmácia Popular, and medicines that have payment subsidized by the Ministry of Health can be removed by any interested person. Just go to an accredited pharmacy (see the full list here).
Already beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família program have the right to collect all medicines free of charge available in the Popular Pharmacy list. In total, there are 40 medicines for the treatment of 11 diseases. You can check the complete list of drugs included in the list in the Ministry of Health website.
How to remove medicines and other items
To collect medicines from Farmácia Popular, simply go to one of the accredited establishments, identified by the PFPB logo, and present the following documents:
- Official document with photo and CPF number or identity document containing the CPF number;
- Medical prescription within the expiration date, both in the SUS and in private services.
For Bolsa Família beneficiaries, recognition of the link with the program occurs automatically by the system, with no prior registration required.
In the case of geriatric diapers, the patient must be aged 60 or over or be a person with a disability to collect the item. In addition, it is necessary to present a prescription, report or medical certificate that indicates the need to use a geriatric diaper and that states, in the case of a patient with a disability, the respective ICD (International Classification of Diseases).
Free sanitary pads
The Popular Pharmacy Program also distributes free sanitary pads through accredited pharmacies. The initiative is part of the Menstrual Dignity Program, which aims to combat inequalities associated with menstrual poverty.
The offer is aimed at low-income public school students, people who are homeless or extremely vulnerable and people in prison units.
Bedridden or disabled patients: how to remove them?
For patients who are bedridden or unable to attend an accredited pharmacy, medications can be collected by a legal representative or proxy. To do this, you must present the documents:
- Medical prescription within the validity period, both from the SUS and from private services;
- Beneficiary holding the prescription: official document with photo and CPF or identity document that contains the CPF number, unless minors, which allows the presentation of the birth certificate or ID.
