The Chamber of Regulation of the Medicines Market (CMED) releases, on Monday (31), the list with the new price of drugs sold in pharmacies and drugstores. Law No. 10,742 of 2003, which deals with the regulation of the pharmaceutical sector, provides for the annual readjustment of medicines.
This does not mean, however, that there will be automatic increase in prices practiced, but a definition of a permitted roof of readjustment. It is up to suppliers – pharmaceuticals, distributors and shopkeepers – to fix the price of each product placed for sale, respecting the established legal ceiling and its strategies in the face of competition.
For the definition of new values, the CMED Council of Ministers takes into account factors such as the inflation of the last 12 months, measured by the Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA), the productivity of drugs and costs not captured by inflation, such as the exchange rate and tariff of electricity and market competition.
In 2024, for example, the annual readjustment of drug price was 4.5%, equivalent to the previous period inflation index. The list of maximum prices that can be charged by products is available on the website of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).
According to Anvisa, the law provides for an annual price ceiling adjustment to protect consumers from abusive increases, ensure access to medicines and preserve the purchasing power of the population. At the same time, the calculation established by the law seeks to compensate for any losses of the pharmaceutical sector due to inflation and impacts on production costs, enabling continuity in the supply of medicines.
If the consumer finds irregularities, it is possible to trigger the consumer protection agencies, such as the Procons and the Consumer Platform.gov.br. It is also possible to submit a complaint directly to CMED, through a form available on the Anvisa page.
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CMED is composed of the Ministries of Health, House, Justice and Public Security, Farm, and Development, Industry, Commerce and Services. The National Health Surveillance Agency has the function of Executive Secretariat, providing technical support to decisions.
