Portugal: UMG seeks faster access to generic medicines

The UMG - Associação de Utentes de Medicamentos Genéricos has requested intervention from the Portuguese Ombudsman, Luísa Neto, to accelerate the availability and use of generic medicines in Portugal.

The association argues that increasing the quota of generic medicines from the current 50.5% to 75%—aligning with many OECD countries—could generate annual savings of approximately 1 billion euros. This includes an estimated 300 million euros in savings for the State, the National Health Service (SNS), and Portuguese families.

According to the UMG, generic drugs saved over 666 million euros in Portugal in 2025. The association maintains that there should be no unnecessary delays in providing generic alternatives whenever they meet quality, safety, and efficacy requirements, especially given the current financial pressure on family budgets and healthcare resources.