The Portuguese Association of Pharmacies (AFP) has announced its close attention to a proposed amendment regarding minimum service requirements and operating hours for pharmacies in Portugal. The organization emphasizes the need to align the sector’s response with the current health system, interacting effectively with public, private, and social emergency units.
The AFP warns that any changes must ensure both the effective benefit to users and the economic and operational viability of pharmacies. This balance, they argue, is crucial to maintaining the network that provides daily healthcare access to millions of Portuguese citizens.
This statement follows recent indications that the government is considering updating the criteria for pharmacy operations outside regular hours, aiming to better serve the emergency needs of the National Health Service (SNS), as well as those of the private and social sectors.
As reported by the newspaper Público, the new regulations would require pharmacy schedules to adapt to the SNS structure, including Local Health Units (ULS) and emergency services in the private and social sectors.
Municipalities reportedly support these changes but want involvement in schedule planning, citing their knowledge of local needs, such as events, tourist areas, and transportation schedules.
The proposed legislation would formalize pandemic-era adjustments to the health system and adapt them for integration with national, private, and social health services. Notably, in areas with fewer pharmacies and no SNS or private emergency services, at least one pharmacy should remain open for two hours after the local health center closes.
The AFP calls for a “clear and precise definition” of pharmaceutical assistance concepts to differentiate service modalities and prevent misunderstandings that could affect professionals and the public.
They advocate for regulations that cater to low population density areas by allowing for flexible solutions to enhance accessibility and efficiency, even if it means a substitute pharmacy operates outside the municipality but closer to a healthcare unit.
The integration of private and social emergency services into pharmaceutical assistance criteria is deemed essential, along with avoiding unnecessary burdens that add no value to users, such as overly frequent schedule changes.
The AFP reaffirms its willingness to work with the Ministry of Health and other authorities to create balanced solutions, ensuring pharmacies remain a trusted, high-quality, and personalized point of care.
