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Program

Farmácia Popular do Brasil Program (Popular Pharmacy)

Problem
Access by the population to basic and essential medicines at low cost.
Who it serves
The population; according to the Ministry of Health, pickup requires an official photo ID and CPF number and a medical prescription within its validity period, from the SUS or from private services.
How it works
Medicines made available, since the 2004 decree, in partner popular pharmacies and in the private network of pharmacies and drugstores, at a subsidized price; today, according to the Ministry of Health, free of charge in accredited pharmacies bearing the Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular seal.

Health

Relation to the Lula governments

Created under Lula · First term (2003 to 2006) · since April 2004

Law No. 10,858 of April 13, 2004 (conversion of MP 154/2003), signed by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Humberto Sérgio Costa Lima, deals with the provision of medicines by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Fiocruz, upon reimbursement, with a view to ensuring that the population has access to basic and essential health products at low cost.[1]

The 'Farmácia Popular do Brasil' Program was established by Decree No. 5,090 of May 20, 2004, signed by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Gastão Wagner de Sousa Campos. The decree already provided for availability in partner popular pharmacies and also in the private network of pharmacies and drugstores.[2]

The Ministry of Health's Statement of Reasons (2003) proposed that the "Farmácias Populares" be managed by Fiocruz, with basic and essential medicinal products at low cost, upon mere reimbursement of the costs of production, distribution and dispensing, with allocation of surplus medicines and use of the idle capacity of the official laboratories.[3]

Expanded under Lula · First term (2003 to 2006) · since March 2006

GM/MS Ordinance No. 491 of March 9, 2006, signed by Minister of Health Saraiva Felipe, provided for the expansion of the “Farmácia Popular do Brasil” Program, which, according to its art. 1, will consist of the Ministry of Health paying a percentage of the Reference Value (VR), per pharmacotechnical unit (uf), of the active ingredient of medicines, for dispensing directly in pharmaceutical retail, with the patient paying the difference up to the sale price. The ordinance was revoked by PRT GM/MS No. 3,089 of December 16, 2009.[4]

Origin and precursors

Origin milestone: founding legal act, First term (2003 to 2006).

The 'Farmácia Popular do Brasil' Program was established by Decree No. 5,090 of May 20, 2004, signed by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Gastão Wagner de Sousa Campos. The decree already provided for availability in partner popular pharmacies and also in the private network of pharmacies and drugstores.[2]

Precursors

  • 1998 National Medicines Policy earlier technical basis GM/MS Ordinance No. 3,916 of October 30, 1998, signed by José Serra (Fernando Henrique Cardoso government), approved the National Medicines Policy, which provided for using the installed capacity of official laboratories preferably for essential medicines, especially those of primary care.[5]
  • Farmácia Básica (Basic Pharmacy) similar initiative, no succession stated by the source The 1998 National Medicines Policy mentions the basic pharmacy (farmácia básica) among the actions linked to the policy and lists among its references the Ministry of Health publication 'Farmácia Básica. Programa 1997/98'.[6]

Precursor investigation: new structure established (October 13, 2026).

Scope: Norms and statements of reasons at the Planalto, publications of the ministries and oversight bodies, searches recorded in the dossier (research of October 13, 2026). The decree extinguishing CEME was not opened (404).

Responsibilities

  • Fiocruz, under the supervision of the Ministry of Health federal management

    Under Decree 5,090/2004, Fiocruz is the executor of the acquisition, storage, sale and dispensing of the medicines, under the direct and immediate supervision of the Ministry of Health, which defines the list of medicines based on epidemiological evidence and issues complementary rules.[7]

  • States, municipalities, philanthropic hospitals, and the private network partnership

    Under Decree 5,090/2004, availability takes place in popular pharmacies, through agreements with states, the Federal District, municipalities and philanthropic hospitals, and in the private network of pharmacies and drugstores, at a subsidized price; Law 10,858/2004 authorizes Fiocruz to enter into agreements with the Union, states and municipalities and contracts with producers.[8]

  • National Congress (conversion of MP 154) legislative approval

    MP 154/2003 authorized Fiocruz to make available 'the surplus of its production'; Law 10,858/2004, which converted it and was decreed by the National Congress, deals with the provision of medicines by Fiocruz upon reimbursement, without the reference to the surplus in art. 1.[9]

Timeline

Timeline of Farmácia Popular do Brasil Program (Popular Pharmacy)
DatePhaseWhat happened
April 13, 2004Legal actLaw 10,858 authorizes the provision of medicines.[1]
May 20, 2004Legal actDecree 5,090 establishes the program.[2]
March 9, 2006Legal actGM/MS Ordinance 491 provides for the expansion of the program.[4]

What was established

Decree 5,090/2004 states, among its recitals, that the goal of ensuring basic and essential medicines for the population involves making medicines available at low cost to citizens who are served by the private network.[10]

How it works

The Farmácia Popular Program page on the Ministry of Health portal states that the program makes Primary Health Care medicines available through accredited pharmacies in the private network, which can also be picked up at UBS (basic health units) and municipal pharmacies, and that the medicines and supplies are provided free of charge; the page says there are 12 indications and lists hypertension, diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, dyslipidemia, rhinitis, Parkinson's disease, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus associated with cardiovascular diseases and contraception, in addition to geriatric diapers and sanitary pads.[11]

Who it serves

According to the Ministry of Health, to pick up medicines or geriatric diapers through the program, one must go to an accredited pharmacy, identified with the Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular seal, and present an official photo ID and CPF number and a medical prescription within its validity period, from either the SUS or private services; geriatric diapers for incontinence are intended for people aged 60 or older or people with disabilities.[12]

Changes

According to the Ministry of Health's page on the program, Farmácia Popular makes Primary Health Care medicines available through accredited pharmacies in the private network, identified with the Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular seal, and the medicines and supplies are provided free of charge.[13]

Budget and spending

Figures are nominal unless stated otherwise. Announced, authorized, committed, liquidated and paid amounts are different things and appear with the type indicated. In SIOP lines, "paid" means paid within the same fiscal year (arrears settled later are not counted), and one budget action can fund more than one program: the text says when the action is only part of a program.

In SIOP, nominal values: in 2004, action 7660 (Installation of Popular Pharmacies) had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$16,500,000, a commitment of R$12,856,381, a liquidation of R$12,856,381 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$7,554,753; in 2005, action 8415 (Maintenance and Operation of the Popular Pharmacies) had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$308,360,000, a commitment of R$29,827,440, a liquidation of R$29,827,440 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$22,006,297; and in 2010, action 8415 had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$474,110,000, a commitment of R$459,747,994, a liquidation of R$459,747,994 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$426,618,694. The title of action 8415 does not distinguish between the own network and copayment.[14]

The Transparency Portal shows for action 20YR (Maintenance and Operation of the Farmácia Popular do Brasil Program through the Free Distribution System) in 2024 an updated action budget of R$3,060,469,235.00 and executed expenditures of R$2,739,834,167.90. Nominal values.[15]

According to the Ministry of Health's presentation (2025), the program's budget was around R$210 million in 2006, reached R$3.21 billion in 2017, was restored to R$2.98 billion in 2023, and the approved budget for 2025 is R$4.2 billion.[16]

In SIOP, nominal values, action 20YR (Maintenance and Operation of the Farmácia Popular do Brasil Program through the Free Distribution System) and action 20YS (Maintenance and Operation of the Farmácia Popular do Brasil Program through the Copayment System): in 2023, action 20YR had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$2,368,975,955, a commitment of R$2,368,975,955, a liquidation of R$2,153,089,338 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$2,153,089,338; in 2023, action 20YS had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$606,501,915, a commitment of R$606,501,915, a liquidation of R$538,379,198 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$538,379,198; in 2024, action 20YR had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$3,060,469,235, a commitment of R$3,032,635,034, a liquidation of R$2,739,834,168 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$2,739,834,168; in 2024, action 20YS had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$602,252,052, a commitment of R$602,252,052, a liquidation of R$555,020,747 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$555,020,747; in 2025, action 20YR had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$5,924,524,544, a commitment of R$5,924,524,544, a liquidation of R$4,721,691,844 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$4,721,691,844; in 2025, action 20YS had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$66,649,471, a commitment of R$66,649,471, a liquidation of R$66,645,374 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$66,645,374. In 2025 the authorized amount of 20YS fell to R$66,649,471 (initial appropriation of R$419,242,326).[17]

In SIOP, nominal values, in 2006, action 8415 (Maintenance and Operation of the Popular Pharmacies) had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$173,253,475, a commitment of R$144,251,040, a liquidation of R$144,251,040 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$108,995,915; and in 2006, action 7660 (Implementation of Popular Pharmacies) had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$19,670,350, a commitment of R$18,789,748, a liquidation of R$18,789,748 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$11,192,789. The initial appropriation (LOA) was R$186,903,475 for 8415 and R$18,250,350 for 7660.[18]

Beneficiaries

Annual flow, a monthly stock and a cumulative total cannot be added together.

According to the Ministry of Health's presentation at the September 3, 2025 public hearing in the Chamber of Deputies, the program served about 470 thousand people per year in 2006, reached 22.5 million and serves about 24.7 million; the chart shows, in millions of people served per year, 0.47 (2006), 9.58 (2011), 22.54 (2017), 20.75 (2022), 22.00 (2023) and 24.76 (2024).[19]

Deliverables

Announcement, contracting, completion and operation are different phases.

In a presentation by the general coordinator of the Farmácia Popular Program at the Ministry of Health to the Chamber of Deputies, at a public hearing on September 3, 2025, the ministry reports that Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular began in 2006 with 2,955 accredited pharmacies and, before the decline, reached 34,595; the chart shows 2,955 (2006), 20,101 (2011), 34,595 (2016), 30,908 (2022), 31,073 (2023), 31,170 (2024) and 29,910 (2025). The same presentation says, on another slide, that the program has 29,910 accredited pharmacies, but the table by state shows a total of 29,110; neither that slide nor the table gives a reference date.[20]

According to a Ministry of Health presentation at a public hearing in the Chamber of Deputies (2025), the program's pharmacies and drugstores were distributed across 85% of Brazilian municipalities (4,680 municipalities), with coverage of 97% of the Brazilian population.[21]

Impact evaluations

Evaluations with a causal design are flagged; association is not proof of effect.

According to the study by Almeida, Sá, Vieira and Benevides (Revista de Saúde Pública, 2019), which uses fixed-effects difference-in-differences on data from 5,566 municipalities from 2003 to 2016, the program's expansion of access to medicines for hypertension and diabetes resulted in a statistically significant reduction in hospitalizations and deaths from these diseases, at an average rate of 27.6% and 8.0% per year, respectively; the impacts were driven by the partner network.[22]

Audits

In Ruling 3030/2010-Plenary (operational audit of Farmácia Popular, the copayment system), the TCU found that, of 13 medicines in the program, the amount subsidized by the Ministry of Health exceeded by more than 1,000% the price of the Farmácia Básica purchases for four medicines, reaching 2,500% for one of them, and that, from April 2009 to January 2010, no establishment was sanctioned for dispensing medicines without observing the program's rules.[23]

In Verification Report No. 823121 (November 9, 2023), the CGU found that more than 362 million sales records reported to the MS from 2015 to 2020 by accredited establishments were not covered by inventory backed by tax documentation (17.4% of operations), corresponding to R$2,571,746,904.51 (18.53% of the total transferred).[24]

Limitations

According to the study by Emmerick et al. (BMC Public Health, 2020), an interrupted time series using the program's dispensing database from 2006 to 2012, in December 2012 Farmácia Popular covered on average 13% of the use of antidiabetics and 11.5% of the use of antihypertensives; there was a reduction in per capita cost of more than 50%, but the ministry's total spending (MoH, Ministry of Health in the article) on the program increased because of the large increase in use, and the authors estimate that treating all patients with hypertension and diabetes through the program in 2012 would require 97% of the total medicines budget; they conclude that the program is sustainable as a complementary policy, but cannot replace the distribution of medicines by the SUS.[25]

What remains to be documented

  • Audits: Full text of Ruling 3030/2010-Plenary (report and vote) not obtained in PDF.

Sources and evidence

Excerpts are quoted in the original language of the source.

  1. 1. Law No. 10,858 of April 13, 2004 (conversion of MP 154/2003), signed by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Humberto Sérgio Costa Lima, deals with the provision of medicines by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Fiocruz, upon reimbursement, with a view to ensuring that the population has access to basic and essential health products at low cost.

    • Lei nº 10.858, de 13 de abril de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: art. 1, caput. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Art. 1º Esta Lei trata da disponibilização de medicamentos pela Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, mediante ressarcimento, visando a assegurar à população o acesso a produtos básicos e essenciais à saúde a baixo custo.”
    • Lei nº 10.858, de 13 de abril de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: header; closing and signatures. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “LEI Nº 10.858, DE 13 DE ABRIL DE 2004. Regulamento Conversão da MPv nº 154, de 2003 [...] Brasília, 13 de abril de 2004; 183º da Independência e 116º da República. LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA Humberto Sérgio Costa Lima”

  2. 2. The 'Farmácia Popular do Brasil' Program was established by Decree No. 5,090 of May 20, 2004, signed by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Gastão Wagner de Sousa Campos. The decree already provided for availability in partner popular pharmacies and also in the private network of pharmacies and drugstores.

    • Decreto nº 5.090, de 20 de maio de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: art. 1, caput and § 1. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Fica instituído o Programa "Farmácia Popular do Brasil", que visa a disponibilização de medicamentos, nos termos da Lei n o 10.858, de 13 de abril de 2004 , em municípios e regiões do território nacional. § 1 o A disponibilização de medicamentos a que se refere o caput será efetivada em farmácias populares,”
    • Decreto nº 5.090, de 20 de maio de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: art. 1, § 1 (end); closing. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “por intermédio de convênios firmados com Estados, Distrito Federal, Municípios e hospitais filantrópicos, bem como em rede privada de farmácias e drogarias. [...] Brasília, 20 de maio de 2004; 183o da Independência e 116o da República. LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA Gastão Wagner de Sousa Campos”

  3. 3. The Ministry of Health's Statement of Reasons (2003) proposed that the "Farmácias Populares" be managed by Fiocruz, with basic and essential medicinal products at low cost, upon mere reimbursement of the costs of production, distribution and dispensing, with allocation of surplus medicines and use of the idle capacity of the official laboratories.

    • Exposição de Motivos nº 00097/GM/MS, de 17 de novembro de 2003 (MP 154/2003) · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: paragraphs 2 and 3. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Pela proposta, as "Farmácias Populares" serão geridas pela FIOCRUZ, e nelas serão distribuídos os produtos medicamentosos básicos e essenciais a baixo custo. As ações ora propostas dar-se-ão mediante mero ressarcimento pelos custos de produção, distribuição e dispensação, o que elimina qualquer caráter lucrativo da atividade”
    • Exposição de Motivos nº 00097/GM/MS, de 17 de novembro de 2003 (MP 154/2003) · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: paragraph on allocation of surpluses. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Além disso, propiciará destinação aos medicamentos excedentes, bem como a utilização de capacidade ociosa e já instalada dos laboratórios oficiais”

  4. 4. GM/MS Ordinance No. 491 of March 9, 2006, signed by Minister of Health Saraiva Felipe, provided for the expansion of the “Farmácia Popular do Brasil” Program, which, according to its art. 1, will consist of the Ministry of Health paying a percentage of the Reference Value (VR), per pharmacotechnical unit (uf), of the active ingredient of medicines, for dispensing directly in pharmaceutical retail, with the patient paying the difference up to the sale price. The ordinance was revoked by PRT GM/MS No. 3,089 of December 16, 2009.

    • Portaria GM/MS nº 491, de 9 de março de 2006 · Ministry of Health (Saúde Legis / BVS) Official legal act
      Where: header, summary (ementa) and art. 1. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “PORTARIA Nº 491, DE 9 DE MARÇO DE 2006 (Revogada pela PRT GM/MS nº 3.089 de 16.12.2009) Dispõe sobre a expansão do Programa “Farmácia Popular do Brasil”. [...] Art. 1º A expansão do Programa “Farmácia Popular do Brasil” consistirá no pagamento pelo Ministério da Saúde de percentual do Valor de Referência (VR)”
    • Portaria GM/MS nº 491, de 9 de março de 2006 · Ministry of Health (Saúde Legis / BVS) Official legal act
      Where: art. 1 (end); signature. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “para dispensação diretamente no comércio farmacêutico, mediante complementação, pelo paciente, da diferença para o preço de venda da correspondente apresentação que lhe foi prescrita ou do genérico equivalente. [...] Art.18 Esta Portaria entra em vigor na data de sua publicação. SARAIVA FELIPE”

  5. 5. GM/MS Ordinance No. 3,916 of October 30, 1998, signed by José Serra (Fernando Henrique Cardoso government), approved the National Medicines Policy, which provided for using the installed capacity of official laboratories preferably for essential medicines, especially those of primary care.

  6. 6. The 1998 National Medicines Policy mentions the basic pharmacy (farmácia básica) among the actions linked to the policy and lists among its references the Ministry of Health publication 'Farmácia Básica. Programa 1997/98'.

  7. 7. Under Decree 5,090/2004, Fiocruz is the executor of the acquisition, storage, sale and dispensing of the medicines, under the direct and immediate supervision of the Ministry of Health, which defines the list of medicines based on epidemiological evidence and issues complementary rules.

    • Decreto nº 5.090, de 20 de maio de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: art. 2, caput. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Art. 2 o A Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ será a executora das ações inerentes à aquisição, estocagem, comercialização e dispensação dos medicamentos, podendo para tanto firmar convênios com a União, Estados, Distrito Federal e Municípios, sob a supervisão direta e imediata do Ministério da Saúde.”
    • Decreto nº 5.090, de 20 de maio de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: art. 3. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “rol de medicamentos a ser disponibilizado em decorrência da execução do Programa "Farmácia Popular do Brasil" será definido pelo Ministério da Saúde, considerando-se as evidências epidemiológicas e prevalências de doenças e agravos.”

  8. 8. Under Decree 5,090/2004, availability takes place in popular pharmacies, through agreements with states, the Federal District, municipalities and philanthropic hospitals, and in the private network of pharmacies and drugstores, at a subsidized price; Law 10,858/2004 authorizes Fiocruz to enter into agreements with the Union, states and municipalities and contracts with producers.

    • Decreto nº 5.090, de 20 de maio de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: art. 1, §§ 1 and 2 (original wording). Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “§ 1 o A disponibilização de medicamentos a que se refere o caput será efetivada em farmácias populares, por intermédio de convênios firmados com Estados, Distrito Federal, Municípios e hospitais filantrópicos, bem como em rede privada de farmácias e drogarias. § 2 o Em se tratando de disponibilização por intermédio da rede privada de farmácia e drogarias, o preço do medicamento será subsidiado.”
    • Lei nº 10.858, de 13 de abril de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: art. 3. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Art. 3º Para os efeitos do disposto no parágrafo único do art. 1º desta Lei, a Fiocruz poderá firmar: I – convênios com a União, com os Estados e com os Municípios; e II – contratos de fornecimento com produtores de medicamentos e outros insumos necessários para a atenção à saúde.”

  9. 9. MP 154/2003 authorized Fiocruz to make available 'the surplus of its production'; Law 10,858/2004, which converted it and was decreed by the National Congress, deals with the provision of medicines by Fiocruz upon reimbursement, without the reference to the surplus in art. 1.

    • Medida Provisória nº 154, de 23 de dezembro de 2003 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: art. 1, caput. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Art. 1 o Fica a Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ autorizada a disponibilizar o excedente de sua produção de medicamentos, visando assegurar à população o acesso a produtos básicos e essenciais à saúde, a baixo custo.”
    • Lei nº 10.858, de 13 de abril de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: preamble and art. 1. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Faço saber que o Congresso Nacional decreta e eu sanciono a seguinte Lei: Art. 1º Esta Lei trata da disponibilização de medicamentos pela Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, mediante ressarcimento, visando a assegurar à população o acesso a produtos básicos e essenciais à saúde a baixo custo.”

  10. 10. Decree 5,090/2004 states, among its recitals, that the goal of ensuring basic and essential medicines for the population involves making medicines available at low cost to citizens who are served by the private network.

    • Decreto nº 5.090, de 20 de maio de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: recitals. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Considerando que a meta de assegurar medicamentos básicos e essenciais à população envolve a disponibilização de medicamentos a baixo custo, para os cidadãos que são assistidos pela rede privada; e”
    • Decreto nº 5.090, de 20 de maio de 2004 · Presidency of the Republic (Planalto) Official legal act
      Where: art. 4. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Art. 4 o O Programa "Farmácia Popular do Brasil" será executado sem prejuízo do abastecimento da rede pública nacional do Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS.”

  11. 11. The Farmácia Popular Program page on the Ministry of Health portal states that the program makes Primary Health Care medicines available through accredited pharmacies in the private network, which can also be picked up at UBS (basic health units) and municipal pharmacies, and that the medicines and supplies are provided free of charge; the page says there are 12 indications and lists hypertension, diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, dyslipidemia, rhinitis, Parkinson's disease, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus associated with cardiovascular diseases and contraception, in addition to geriatric diapers and sanitary pads.

    • Farmácia Popular — Ministério da Saúde · Ministry of Health Government communication
      Where: Info Farmácia Popular block, paragraph 1. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “O Programa Farmácia Popular disponibiliza medicamentos da Atenção Primária à Saúde por meio de farmácias credenciadas da rede privada. Os medicamentos também podem ser retirados nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) e nas farmácias municipais. Os medicamentos e insumos são fornecidos gratuitamente.”
    • Farmácia Popular — Ministério da Saúde · Ministry of Health Government communication
      Where: Info Farmácia Popular block, paragraph 2. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “O Farmácia Popular oferece medicamentos para 12 indicações: hipertensão; diabetes; asma; osteoporose; dislipidemia (colesterol alto); rinite; doença de Parkinson; glaucoma; diabetes mellitus associada a doenças cardiovasculares; anticoncepção. O programa também disponibiliza fraldas geriátricas para pessoas com incontinência e absorventes higiênicos.”

  12. 12. According to the Ministry of Health, to pick up medicines or geriatric diapers through the program, one must go to an accredited pharmacy, identified with the Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular seal, and present an official photo ID and CPF number and a medical prescription within its validity period, from either the SUS or private services; geriatric diapers for incontinence are intended for people aged 60 or older or people with disabilities.

    • Farmácia Popular — Ministério da Saúde · Ministry of Health Government communication
      Where: section Access to the program, Medicines and/or geriatric diapers. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Para retirar medicamentos ou fraldas geriátricas pelo programa, é necessário ir a uma farmácia credenciada, identificada com o selo Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular”
    • Farmácia Popular — Ministério da Saúde · Ministry of Health Government communication
      Where: section Access to the program, list of documents. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Documento oficial com foto e número do CPF ou documento de identidade em que conste o número do CPF; Receita médica dentro do prazo de validade, tanto do SUS quanto de serviços particulares.”
    • Farmácia Popular — Ministério da Saúde · Ministry of Health Government communication
      Where: section Geriatric diapers. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “As fraldas geriátricas para incontinência são destinadas a: pessoas com 60 anos ou mais; ou pessoas com deficiência.”

  13. 13. According to the Ministry of Health's page on the program, Farmácia Popular makes Primary Health Care medicines available through accredited pharmacies in the private network, identified with the Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular seal, and the medicines and supplies are provided free of charge.

    • Farmácia Popular — Ministério da Saúde · Ministry of Health Government communication
      Where: sections 'Info' and 'Acesso ao programa'. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “O Programa Farmácia Popular disponibiliza medicamentos da Atenção Primária à Saúde por meio de farmácias credenciadas da rede privada. [...] Os medicamentos e insumos são fornecidos gratuitamente. [...] é necessário ir a uma farmácia credenciada, identificada com o selo Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular”

  14. 14. In SIOP, nominal values: in 2004, action 7660 (Installation of Popular Pharmacies) had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$16,500,000, a commitment of R$12,856,381, a liquidation of R$12,856,381 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$7,554,753; in 2005, action 8415 (Maintenance and Operation of the Popular Pharmacies) had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$308,360,000, a commitment of R$29,827,440, a liquidation of R$29,827,440 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$22,006,297; and in 2010, action 8415 had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$474,110,000, a commitment of R$459,747,994, a liquidation of R$459,747,994 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$426,618,694. The title of action 8415 does not distinguish between the own network and copayment.

  15. 15. The Transparency Portal shows for action 20YR (Maintenance and Operation of the Farmácia Popular do Brasil Program through the Free Distribution System) in 2024 an updated action budget of R$3,060,469,235.00 and executed expenditures of R$2,739,834,167.90. Nominal values.

  16. 16. According to the Ministry of Health's presentation (2025), the program's budget was around R$210 million in 2006, reached R$3.21 billion in 2017, was restored to R$2.98 billion in 2023, and the approved budget for 2025 is R$4.2 billion.

  17. 17. In SIOP, nominal values, action 20YR (Maintenance and Operation of the Farmácia Popular do Brasil Program through the Free Distribution System) and action 20YS (Maintenance and Operation of the Farmácia Popular do Brasil Program through the Copayment System): in 2023, action 20YR had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$2,368,975,955, a commitment of R$2,368,975,955, a liquidation of R$2,153,089,338 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$2,153,089,338; in 2023, action 20YS had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$606,501,915, a commitment of R$606,501,915, a liquidation of R$538,379,198 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$538,379,198; in 2024, action 20YR had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$3,060,469,235, a commitment of R$3,032,635,034, a liquidation of R$2,739,834,168 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$2,739,834,168; in 2024, action 20YS had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$602,252,052, a commitment of R$602,252,052, a liquidation of R$555,020,747 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$555,020,747; in 2025, action 20YR had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$5,924,524,544, a commitment of R$5,924,524,544, a liquidation of R$4,721,691,844 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$4,721,691,844; in 2025, action 20YS had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$66,649,471, a commitment of R$66,649,471, a liquidation of R$66,645,374 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$66,645,374. In 2025 the authorized amount of 20YS fell to R$66,649,471 (initial appropriation of R$419,242,326).

  18. 18. In SIOP, nominal values, in 2006, action 8415 (Maintenance and Operation of the Popular Pharmacies) had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$173,253,475, a commitment of R$144,251,040, a liquidation of R$144,251,040 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$108,995,915; and in 2006, action 7660 (Implementation of Popular Pharmacies) had an authorized appropriation (law plus credits) of R$19,670,350, a commitment of R$18,789,748, a liquidation of R$18,789,748 and a payment in the fiscal year of R$11,192,789. The initial appropriation (LOA) was R$186,903,475 for 8415 and R$18,250,350 for 7660.

  19. 19. According to the Ministry of Health's presentation at the September 3, 2025 public hearing in the Chamber of Deputies, the program served about 470 thousand people per year in 2006, reached 22.5 million and serves about 24.7 million; the chart shows, in millions of people served per year, 0.47 (2006), 9.58 (2011), 22.54 (2017), 20.75 (2022), 22.00 (2023) and 24.76 (2024).

  20. 20. In a presentation by the general coordinator of the Farmácia Popular Program at the Ministry of Health to the Chamber of Deputies, at a public hearing on September 3, 2025, the ministry reports that Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular began in 2006 with 2,955 accredited pharmacies and, before the decline, reached 34,595; the chart shows 2,955 (2006), 20,101 (2011), 34,595 (2016), 30,908 (2022), 31,073 (2023), 31,170 (2024) and 29,910 (2025). The same presentation says, on another slide, that the program has 29,910 accredited pharmacies, but the table by state shows a total of 29,110; neither that slide nor the table gives a reference date.

  21. 21. According to a Ministry of Health presentation at a public hearing in the Chamber of Deputies (2025), the program's pharmacies and drugstores were distributed across 85% of Brazilian municipalities (4,680 municipalities), with coverage of 97% of the Brazilian population.

  22. 22. According to the study by Almeida, Sá, Vieira and Benevides (Revista de Saúde Pública, 2019), which uses fixed-effects difference-in-differences on data from 5,566 municipalities from 2003 to 2016, the program's expansion of access to medicines for hypertension and diabetes resulted in a statistically significant reduction in hospitalizations and deaths from these diseases, at an average rate of 27.6% and 8.0% per year, respectively; the impacts were driven by the partner network.

  23. 23. In Ruling 3030/2010-Plenary (operational audit of Farmácia Popular, the copayment system), the TCU found that, of 13 medicines in the program, the amount subsidized by the Ministry of Health exceeded by more than 1,000% the price of the Farmácia Básica purchases for four medicines, reaching 2,500% for one of them, and that, from April 2009 to January 2010, no establishment was sanctioned for dispensing medicines without observing the program's rules.

  24. 24. In Verification Report No. 823121 (November 9, 2023), the CGU found that more than 362 million sales records reported to the MS from 2015 to 2020 by accredited establishments were not covered by inventory backed by tax documentation (17.4% of operations), corresponding to R$2,571,746,904.51 (18.53% of the total transferred).

  25. 25. According to the study by Emmerick et al. (BMC Public Health, 2020), an interrupted time series using the program's dispensing database from 2006 to 2012, in December 2012 Farmácia Popular covered on average 13% of the use of antidiabetics and 11.5% of the use of antihypertensives; there was a reduction in per capita cost of more than 50%, but the ministry's total spending (MoH, Ministry of Health in the article) on the program increased because of the large increase in use, and the authors estimate that treating all patients with hypertension and diabetes through the program in 2012 would require 97% of the total medicines budget; they conclude that the program is sustainable as a complementary policy, but cannot replace the distribution of medicines by the SUS.

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