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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [HEALTH]

2 clusters · 9 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Diabetes medication access and costs in Portugal

Overview

In Portugal, the medicines regulator Infarmed authorized the commercialization of generic dapagliflozin, which is 50% cheaper than the brand-name drug Forxiga. This measure aims to treat type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and chronic heart failure, with the Association of Generic Medicine Users (UMG) estimating that 900,000 patients could benefit and the National Health Service could save over 45 million euros annually.

However, the Associação Protetora dos Diabéticos de Portugal reported that some diabetic patients are losing access to subsidized medications. This issue affects individuals who lack a family doctor or have not updated personal data within the National Health Service (RNU), leading to their removal from the National User Registry. This removal prevents doctors from issuing subsidized prescriptions, which is particularly critical for insulin. Association president José Manuel Boavida warned that the high cost of insulin poses a severe health risk to those unable to afford it without assistance.

Entities

Ministry of Health · SNS · António Oliveira Andrade · Serviço Nacional de Saúde · Dapagliflozina

Timeline

  1. 5 days ago

    [HEALTH] 6 sources
    Diabetic patients in Portugal lose access to subsidized medication

    Diabetic patients in Portugal are losing access to subsidized medication after being removed from the National User Registry due to outdated personal data or lack of a family doctor.

  2. 8 days ago

    [HEALTH] 5 sources
    Portugal approves cheaper generic diabetes medications

    New generic versions of the diabetes drug dapagliflozin are now available in Portugal, offering 50% lower costs for patients and potential annual savings of 45 million euros for the national health service.

Sources

aeiou.pt · dn.pt · eco.sapo.pt · emissoradasbeiras.pt · gazetaweb.com · henan.gov.cn · lity.co · rr.pt · sapo.pt