Brasília – Brazil’s Congress has approved legislation establishing rules for the operation of drugstores inside supermarkets, with the bill now awaiting presidential sanction. The measure, contained in Bill 2158/2023, sponsored by Senator Efraim Filho, authorizes supermarkets to host pharmacies or drugstores provided they operate in a physically separated and exclusive area dedicated to pharmaceutical services.

Under the proposal, medicines cannot be displayed on supermarket shelves or sold in open areas. The pharmacy unit must follow the same sanitary and regulatory requirements applied to traditional pharmacies, including mandatory presence of a licensed pharmacist throughout operating hours, appropriate storage and traceability conditions, and specific procedures for controlled medicines. Supporters argue the measure may expand access to medicines, particularly in smaller municipalities, while critics warn it could encourage self-medication and commercial pressure on drug sales.

Source: Agência Senado