Portugal oncology medication delays exceed EU average

An integrated analysis of the oncology patient journey in Portugal reveals that cancer medications take an average of 926 days to reach patients following European approval. This duration exceeds the European Union average of 655 days, highlighting critical issues regarding access to medical innovation.

Between 2020 and 2025, 57 processes regarding oncology drugs were submitted to Infarmed, resulting in the approval of 26 new drugs and 37 early access programs. While Portugal's availability rate for innovative oncology medications was 61% between 2021 and 2024—higher than the EU27 average of 51%—significant challenges remain. Approximately 50.8% of surveyed patients reported having run out of medication at least once, primarily due to stock shortages.

The study, developed by Inizio Engage, involved over 70 studies covering more than 25 types of cancer. It also noted discrepancies in perceived treatment timelines: patients reported a gap of two to four weeks between diagnosis and treatment, while doctors cited periods of up to eight weeks. Additionally, patients travel an average round-trip distance of 56 kilometers to collect their medication.