The Associação Portuguesa de Medicamentos pela Equidade em Saúde (Equalmed) has called for urgent measures to prevent shortages of generic drugs, including a minimum 5% increase in prices for non-patented medicines in 2027. The association cites rising energy and logistics costs, inflation, and supply chain disruptions as factors threatening the sector's sustainability. Equalmed's proposals aim to address the crisis and promote equitable access to essential medicines.
Equalmed's president, João Paulo Nascimento, warns that production chains for generic and biosimilar medicines have faced difficulties for years, making production unsustainable due to reduced margins. The association notes that over 326,000 packages of generic medicines are dispensed daily in Portuguese pharmacies, with prices 55.3% lower than reference medicines. In the hospital market, the price difference reaches 96%.
The association proposes revising the price fixation and update regime for non-patented medicines, with a minimum 5% update rate for 2027. They also suggest eliminating the extraordinary contribution on the pharmaceutical industry or harmonizing it to 2.5% for generic and biosimilar medicines in the hospital market. Furthermore, Equalmed recommends reviewing incentives for healthcare professionals to promote prescription and dispensing of these medicines.
According to Equalmed, Portugal's adoption rates for generic medicines differ significantly from other countries. The association cites data showing that 2,453 presentations of medicines were discontinued in the ambulatory market and 5,191 in the hospital market over 12 years. The average selling price of discontinued generics in 2026 was €5.80 per package in the ambulatory market and €0.66 per unit in the hospital market.
The association warns that the current unsustainable production situation leads to frequent shortages of various molecules in pharmacies and empty hospital tenders. This situation is expected to worsen without adequate policy measures to incentivize the sector. Equalmed also notes that around 100 biological medicines will lose exclusivity in Europe by 2032, with 79% lacking biosimilars in development.
The loss of exclusivity for biological medicines may exacerbate unequal access to medicines, particularly in hospitals where usage rates vary significantly. Equalmed cites data showing hospital usage rates ranging from 6.4% to 99.2% for these medicines. The association emphasizes the need for policy action to ensure continuous and equitable access to essential medicines.
Equalmed's proposals will be presented as the Portuguese government unveils the 2027 State Budget. The association hopes that the government will consider their suggestions to address the crisis in the generic medicines sector and promote a more sustainable and equitable healthcare system.
Key points
- Association requests 5% price increase for generic drugs in 2027
- Equalmed cites rising energy and logistics costs, inflation, and supply chain disruptions as factors threatening the sector's sustainability
- The association warns of frequent shortages and empty hospital tenders without policy measures to incentivize the sector
