Brazil consumers fear counterfeit medicine in online sales

A market research study by Instituto QualiBest, commissioned by the Brazilian Association of Pharmacy Chains (Abrafarma), reveals that 69% of Brazilian consumers fear purchasing counterfeit medications online. Among those surveyed, 85% hold online sales platforms responsible for the availability of fake, unregistered, or untraceable drugs.

Additional consumer concerns include receiving expired products or items stored improperly (59%) and purchasing medications without Anvisa registration (54%). The study, which surveyed 2,024 regular medication purchasers, indicates that 82% believe digital sales must be strictly linked to authorized pharmacies, and 71% argue that medicines should not be treated as common commodities on digital platforms.

In response to shifting regulations, Anvisa recently revoked measures that prohibited the advertising and sale of medicines on major marketplace platforms such as iFood, Rappi, Mercado Livre, and Shopee. However, the agency clarified that this does not constitute automatic authorization for sales on these channels. Under Law No. 15,357/2026, licensed pharmacies may use digital platforms exclusively for logistics and delivery, provided they comply with specific sanitary regulations currently being developed by Anvisa.