Chamber President Hugo Motta pledged to vote within the next few days on Senator Ephraim Filho’s bill, which would allow the installation of pharmacies inside supermarkets. The text was approved in the Senate in September.
A request has been submitted for urgent processing. The representative indicated to the representatives of the sectors participating in the discussion that he would discuss the request in the coming days. Thus, the matter can be voted on directly in the plenary session of the House of Representatives, without going through any committee, to speed up the process.
Mota indicated that it would be easier to approve the matter in the House of Representatives, as a consensus had been reached in the Senate between the two sectors on the issue.
The original idea of the project, which was led by supermarkets, was to allow medicines to be sold without prescriptions on food retail shelves, as is already happening in other countries.
However, the proposal sparked a strong reaction from pharmacy chains and health entities. The National Health Council recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing that there was a risk that commercial interests would prevail over people’s health.
Supermarkets then succumbed to the pressure and built an alternative solution, reaching a consensus with pharmacies.
The text of Plan B provided for the establishment of complete pharmacy warehouses inside supermarkets, similar to traditional stores, taking into account all Anvisa requirements, with exclusive and air-conditioned areas, and under the supervision and presence of a responsible pharmacist.
Supermarkets will thus be able to sell all types of medicines, including those that require a prescription, with the health safety provided by Anvisa.
Today, supermarkets already have pharmacies in their spaces, but they belong to independent groups and operate before supermarket cashiers.
If the proposal is submitted to the chamber, pharmacies could be established within the food retail business, with payments being made through their own cashiers. If the pharmacy is owned by the supermarket, the revenues go entirely to the facility. If partnered with an existing network, sales will be prorated.
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