An issue with bureaucracy has led to complications for former combatants in Portugal trying to obtain medication discounts. Emanuel Lopes, a former combatant, expressed frustration, stating, “It’s the usual red tape. To get the Veteran Card and exemption from moderate fees, no ‘démarche’ was needed. It was automatic. Now, for medication, it’s a bureaucracy,” as he reported to Lusa.
Apart from Lopes, several former combatants who are pensioners have been unable to receive the 50% discount on non-reimbursed medication costs announced by the PSD/CDS-PP Government, in effect since January. According to several entities consulted, including the Ministry of Defense, the issue arises because some veterans are not listed as pensioners in the National Health Registry (RNU).
The Ministry, led by CDS-PP President Nuno Melo, stated that the RNU is under the jurisdiction of the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS). Data updates are provided by the Directorate-General of National Defense Resources (DGRDN) concerning the status of Former Combatant and various social protection regimes, including Social Security and Caixa Geral de Aposentações.
The Ministry acknowledged the existence of such cases but emphasized that they are “absolutely residual,” noting that over 920,000 packages have been distributed based on more than 690,000 prescriptions. The Ministry highlighted that DGRDN staff undertake daily validation of these records through multiple interactions with veterans via phone, letter, or email, often resulting in corrections and new entries sent to SPMS.
“I am retired; the Finances know I’m retired; the Defense knows I’m a retiree; Caixa Geral de Aposentações knows I’m retired, yet getting the benefit is almost like having to request from the President of the Republic,” Lopes quipped, still waiting for the benefit despite multiple contacts, including attempts at the Defense Single Window, which advised him that the matter is being processed but without a resolution timeline.
SPMS explained to Lusa that the benefit allocation “is operating correctly” following some “initial constraints.” However, they emphasized that veterans must be “properly identified in the RNU” to access benefits. “All reported situations have been individually analyzed and resolved, with continuous monitoring to ensure correction of any inconsistencies and adherence to the participation regime,” stated SPMS, providing two email addresses for complaints: me*************@****sa.pt and an*****************@****sa.pt.
SPMS also noted that some reported difficulties “stem from user misinterpretations of the benefit,” such as veterans requesting compensation for medical devices rather than medication, or non-pensioner veterans seeking additional compensation.
The Defense’s Single Window portal clarifies that there is no need to present a veteran card at pharmacies; the medical prescription simply needs to reference the directive. It states, however, that “until the adaptation of electronic prescribing systems is complete,” the benefit will temporarily and exceptionally apply to prescriptions lacking this reference only if the veteran is properly registered in the RNU.
The National Pharmacy Association (ANF) President, Ema Paulino, assured Lusa that all pharmacies are included in the protocol and ready to implement it, attributing any issues to incorrect user identification within the RNU.
