Brazil's pharmaceutical sector faces production bottlenecks and widespread self‑medication

Eurofarma executive Walker Lahmann said that about 70% of the medicines consumed in Brazil are produced locally, giving the country a privileged position in drug manufacturing. However, the industry relies heavily on imported active ingredients, mainly from China and India, and faces challenges such as trade‑defence weaknesses, high logistics costs and regulatory hurdles.

A separate study reported that roughly 90% of Brazilians have taken medication without medical supervision. Commonly used over‑the‑counter analgesics, antipyretics and anti‑inflammatories can cause intoxication, adverse reactions and mask serious illnesses, especially when combined with chronic drugs. Toxicologist Alvaro Pulchinelli warned that improper dosing and prolonged use increase risks of kidney injury and gastrointestinal bleeding.