Panel SA: Supermarkets rescue plan to sell medicine, and pharmacies react

This week, a fight that has dragged on for more than a decade between supermarkets and pharmacies has heated up again.

A bill that could free supermarkets to sell over-the-counter medications (MIPs), such as syrups, painkillers and antacids, is on the radar of votes in the Chamber of Deputies.

PL 1774/19 opens a discussion on breaking the monopoly of pharmacies in the sale of these medicines and opposes the two sectors that are directly affected by the proposal.

On the one hand, Abrafarma (Brazilian Association of Pharmacies and Drugstores), against the change, says that the presence of a pharmacist is essential to clear any doubts from customers and avoid medical complications with the misuse of these medicines.

On the other hand, Abras (Brazilian Association of Supermarkets) says that the break in the market reserve will reduce the prices of these medicines and that it has already prepared a booklet preparing companies to receive the changes.

In a statement to the deputies, Abrafarma assesses that MIPs represent 30% of pharmacies’ sales and that more than 2 million employees will be impacted by the possible drop in revenue.

In addition, the sector notes that the lack of information about the products can compromise people’s health, causing poisoning due to misuse, for example.

The vice president of Abras, Antonio Longo, says that the entire supermarket chain will be trained to receive the medicines on their shelves. From 50 to 100 MIPs will be added to the sales circuit and the idea is that only 5% of supermarkets will be able to sell medicines at this first moment, while the entire sector is being standardized.

“We prepared a booklet and each company will have a pharmacist as technical responsible, the same happens now with nutritionists who are responsible for releasing the sale of certain foods. The sector knows its responsibilities”, he says.

Joana Cunha with Paulo Ricardo Martins, Gilmara Santos and Diego Felix