Brazil Resumes Free, Low-Cost Medicine Programme

Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva, has launched a new version of the government programme, People’s Pharmacy, which offers free or reduced-price medicines.

The President noted that he relaunched the programme because many people in the country have died with a prescription on the table but no money to buy the medicines.

President Lula da Silva said; “This will no longer happen in this country.”

The new People’s Pharmacy will make it possible to obtain 40 medicines free of charge.

“Along with the free category, there is a list of medicines with a discount of up to 90 per cent, compared to prices in commercial pharmacies,” he noted.

The programme was created in 2004 during Lula da Silva’s first presidential term, but its scope was considerably reduced during the Jair Bolsonaro administration.

Xinhua/ Mercy Chukwudiebere