The federal government published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) the authorization for an increase of up to 4.5% in medicines. Companies will be able to adjust prices from Sunday (31/3) and have up to 15 days to make the change.
The increase is based on the ceiling model of the Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA). Pharmacies and drugstores, as well as laboratories, distributors and importers, cannot charge prices for medicines above those allowed by the Medicines Market Regulation Chamber (CMED).
In numerical terms, the increase is the smallest since the Covid-19 pandemic began, in March 2020. That year, the increase was 4.08%, but it had not yet been impacted by the pandemic.
The resolution did not distinguish the increase between the three bands (Level I, II and III) as had occurred in previous years.
The government also determines that pharmaceutical companies must widely publicize the prices of their products, through publications in specialized media with large circulation. Furthermore, stores must keep updated drug price lists available to consumers and consumer protection agencies.
The list of maximum prices allowed for the sale of medicines is made available for consumer consultation and is updated monthly.
How to report
If the consumer notices that the price of a medicine in an establishment is higher than permitted, they can send a complaint to CMED. The consumer must contact Anvisa and attach supporting documents. The regulatory body then contacts the CMED Executive Secretariat and the Public Ministry.
The complaint can be forwarded through Anvisa’s communication channels: