Few people know, but the right to health provided for in the Brazilian Constitution extends not only to free medical and hospital care, but also to access to free medicines.
Federal, state and municipal programs are in place to ensure that any Brazilian can receive anti-inflammatory drugs without spending; painkillers; contraceptives; control of diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, meningitis and malaria; prevention of sexually transmitted diseases; and even for costly treatments for cancer, AIDS, and people who have had transplants.
According to the Ministry of Health, the medicines available to treat diseases of the Brazilian people are on a list, called Rename? National List of Essential Medicines, which is used by each local ruler to bring, with the amount of R $ 8.82 per inhabitant, the items that meet the demands of their region.
General Criteria for Accessing Free Remedies
In order to be able to save on medicines in this way, the person needs to make the National Health Card, registering with the State Health Department, the city hall or some health clinic; and present at the time of withdrawal the necessary documents according to the classification of the medicine? basic or exceptional.
Documents required to remove basic medicines
- Prescription issued by public health services;
- That the drug is on Rename's list;
- That the prescription has the name of the active ingredient / generic name and not the trade name of the medicine.
Documents Required to Remove Exceptional Remedies
- Original and copy of the CPF;
- Identity document (original and photocopy). If the patient is under 18, attach the copy of the Birth Certificate;
- Proof of address ? original and photocopy;
- Prescription, with patient identification in two ways, legible and with name of the active ingredient and prescribed dosage;
- Report for Request / Authorization of Exceptional Dispensing Medicines issued in four copies, provided that the signature and stamp of the attending physician are original in all copies;
- Summary clinical report issued by the physician stating whether other treatment regimens have been attempted, specifying them if positive;
- If the patient is unable to appear in person, he may authorize another person to withdraw the requested medicine, without registration with the notary;
- Respect the Clinical Protocols and Therapeutic Guidelines defined by the Ministry of Health? which determine, for example, the type of disease and the tests required to make the diagnosis, the therapeutic schemes and the monitoring and monitoring of the disease;
- That the drug is part of the Exceptional Medicines Program.
The requirement for exceptional medicines is higher, as these are treatments indicated to treat chronic or serious diseases and the bureaucracy of the process avoids their indiscriminate use.
Where to take medicines at no cost
The distribution logistics, unlike the documentation needed to access the drug, is not defined by the Ministry of Health, being different in each state and sometimes in each municipality. Medicines can usually be withdrawn at SUS hospitals and outpatient clinics, but there are cities where the spread is also extended to government pharmacies, located at subway, city rail and bus stations. For more information, visit the SUS portal.
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