Brazil's Farmácia Popular program serves as income protection tool

A technical note by researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) indicates that the Farmácia Popular program functions as a vital income protection policy for Brazilian families. Using IBGE data, the study found that for certain populations, the cost of continuous-use medications—such as those for hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and high cholesterol—can constitute a catastrophic health expenditure.

While the average impact on household income is relatively low, the burden is disproportionately high among the most vulnerable. Approximately 1.14 million families spend more than 10% of their total income on these items, meeting the United Nations' threshold for catastrophic spending. This figure does not include other medical costs like consultations or exams. The study highlights that the poorest 10% of families represent 16% of the most burdened group, compared to only 2.6% of the wealthiest 10%.

Separately, an analysis of the Funcional pharmacy benefit database revealed that 22.8% of antidepressant users also utilize medications for chronic conditions. Among these users, 14% use hypoglycemics and 10.4% use anti-hypertensives, highlighting the intersection of mental health and physical chronic disease management.