The National Medicines Authority (Infarmed) has announced that companies can now submit requests for the subsidization of enteral nutrition products, a clinical feeding method administered orally or via tube to meet a patient’s nutritional needs.
In cases of malnutrition, intervention may involve the oral administration of nutrients using conventional and therapeutic diets, fortified foods, or supplements, as well as enteral nutrition.
This month, an exceptional regime for the subsidization of enteral nutrition formulations came into effect as part of the National Health Service (SNS). Infarmed highlighted that this marks an “important step forward for patients to soon benefit from subsidization” in accessing these products at community pharmacies.
A Health Ministry decree published in March stated that the state’s subsidy for these products, with a medical prescription, is 37% of their price this year, increasing to 69% in 2026 and 90% in 2027.
The Portuguese Association for Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition (APNEP) estimated that in 2024, around 115,000 patients in Portugal were at nutritional risk or malnourished, requiring clinical nutrition support, which could cost the state over 225 million euros annually.
Approximately two years ago, two dozen patient associations launched a public petition demanding 100% subsidization of enteral nutrition formulations to ensure access for those at nutritional risk or malnourished.
At that time, the associations noted that the impact of malnutrition could lead to a 19.3% increased risk of complications during hospitalization, a 30% extension of hospital stay, and a twelvefold higher overall mortality rate compared to well-nourished individuals.
