Brazil – Prescriptions and Medications

What are pharmacies called in Brazil, and how do I recognise one?

The Portuguese terms for a pharmacy in Brazil are farmácia and drogaria. Both words are used interchangeably in everyday speech, and both types of establishment dispense medications and health-related products. The everyday word for medicines or remedies is remédios, which you will encounter frequently on packaging and in-store signage. Newcomers should not be unsettled by the word droga — in a pharmaceutical context, it carries the same neutral, clinical meaning as “drug” in English.

It is worth noting that in Brazilian Portuguese, the word associated with drugs can carry negative social connotations linked to illegal substances — however, within a pharmacy setting, the term strictly refers to licensed medicinal products. Brazilian pharmacies are tightly regulated health facilities with no connection to any illicit connotations of the word.

In 2019, Brazil counted 114,352 community pharmacies, of which 76.8% were privately owned, making them the primary point of contact with the healthcare system for a large portion of the population. By 2024, an average of 22 new pharmacies were opening daily across the country. Major retail chains such as Droga Raia, Drogasil, Pague Menos, and Drogaria São Paulo are a familiar presence on main streets and in shopping centres throughout Brazil.

Brazilian pharmacies are generally well stocked and staffed by highly trained professionals, and the cost of medicines is relatively low. Under the rules set by the regulatory authority, pharmacies may only sell products that relate to human health — including medicines, cosmetics, and medicinal plants — and the sale of food and beverages is not permitted. This gives Brazilian pharmacies a distinctly clinical character compared with the pharmacy-supermarket hybrids found in certain other countries.

A legislative milestone came in the form of Law 13.021/2014, which formally recognised pharmacies as healthcare establishments, enabling them to offer services such as vaccinations and rapid diagnostic tests. More recent reforms have also allowed drogarias to provide preclinical and diagnostic services in dedicated sections called Hub Saúde (Health Hub). When looking for a pharmacy, watch for the words farmácia or drogaria on signage, commonly accompanied by the green cross symbol — an emblem recognised across Europe and Latin America alike.

What are pharmacy opening hours in Brazil?

The standard operating hours for most Brazilian pharmacies run from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, though a considerable number — particularly within the major chains — remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In practice, finding a pharmacy at almost any hour is seldom difficult in Brazil’s larger cities, where round-the-clock branches are common. Many 24-hour pharmacies in São Paulo also offer home delivery services.

Under Brazilian law, the regulation of pharmacy opening hours falls to individual municipalities, which means the precise hours of operation can differ from one city or region to the next. In major urban centres such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Belo Horizonte, at least one 24-hour pharmacy is almost always within convenient reach. In smaller towns and rural communities, hours are more likely to be restricted, with earlier evening closures or reduced weekend availability.

Although many private pharmacies are classed as operating 24/7, a qualified pharmacist is required to be on the premises for only eight hours on regular business days. This means that outside standard daytime hours, a trained pharmacy assistant rather than a fully licensed pharmacist may be on duty. For anything other than straightforward or urgent purchases, visiting during daytime hours when a pharmacist is present is the better approach.

If you need to locate a pharmacy outside normal hours and are uncertain where to go, the mobile apps offered by major chains such as Raia Drogasil allow you to search for the nearest open outlet. Local municipal health authority websites may also publish a list of designated on-duty (plantão) pharmacies for their area.

Which medications can I buy over the counter in Brazil, and which require a prescription?

The regulation of medicines in Brazil is the responsibility of ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária), the country’s national health surveillance agency. ANVISA classifies pharmaceutical products into a range of categories: new synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs, generic drugs, branded generics (similar drugs), potentized medicines, specific medicines, notified low-risk medicines, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, herbal medicines, medicinal gases, biological products, and radiopharmaceuticals.

A broad range of medicines are available without a prescription, though certain categories — most notably antibiotics — can only be dispensed with a valid doctor’s note. Some analgesics, by contrast, are freely purchasable over the counter. Compared with more restrictive systems such as those in the UK or Germany, where antibiotics are tightly controlled and always prescription-only, Brazil has historically had a more permissive culture of self-medication, with pharmacists taking on a greater triage role. That said, ANVISA has been progressively tightening controls in recent years.

Prescription-only medicines are identifiable by a coloured stripe on their packaging and are typically labelled “Venda sob prescrição Médica.” The colour of the stripe provides additional information: a red stripe signals that there is no major risk to health but that the medicine has notable side effects; a black stripe indicates a medical risk, generally covering drugs such as antidepressants, antiepileptics, or antipsychotics; a yellow stripe denotes legal narcotics, including high-strength opioid painkillers; and a blue stripe marks psychotropic substances.

In April 2025, ANVISA approved new measures requiring pharmacies to retain medical prescriptions when dispensing GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines — a class that includes semaglutide and tirzepatide, widely known as “slimming injections.” This reflects a continuing pattern of ANVISA strengthening oversight of medicines that had previously been dispensed with looser controls.

Online pharmacies are a growing presence in Brazil, and purchasing medicines through digital platforms is increasingly common. However, prescription medicines still require a valid Brazilian prescription to be legally dispensed, even when ordered online. Brazilian health authorities permit the personal importation of non-controlled prescription medicines under strict conditions. Before using any online pharmacy, always confirm that it holds a current ANVISA registration. A register of licensed pharmacies can be checked via the official ANVISA website.

How does the prescription system work in Brazil?

In Brazil, prescriptions are referred to as receitas médicas. They may be issued by a licensed physician (médico), a dentist (dentista) for dental-related medications, or in certain circumstances a nurse practitioner. Both general practitioners and specialists are authorised to write prescriptions. Unlike the NHS model in the UK — where a GP typically acts as a gatekeeper for specialist care and most prescriptions — in Brazil, patients in the private sector can consult a specialist directly without a referral and receive a prescription at that same appointment.

When collecting a prescription medication, the pharmacist may ask for personal details such as your national identification number, telephone number, and address. This is routine and forms part of ANVISA’s dispensing record requirements. It is advisable to have your CPF (Brazilian tax identification number) or another recognised identification document available when picking up prescription medicines.

Brazil operates a colour-coded prescription booklet system for controlled substances. Physical prescription pads remain in use for these drugs, differentiated by colour: yellow for narcotics, blue for psychotropic substances, and white for systemic retinoids and immunosuppressants. Standard, non-controlled prescriptions may be issued electronically, provided they follow ANVISA’s required format and are signed with a valid ICP-Brasil digital certificate.

ANVISA has been steadily expanding the use of electronic prescribing. The move towards digital prescriptions represents a significant step forward for Brazilian healthcare, combining technological advancement with stronger security, greater transparency, and more effective management of controlled medicines. Nonetheless, physical prescription booklets remain in parallel use, particularly for controlled substances.

As of 2025, prescriptions for many medications remain valid for up to 90 days. For controlled substances, validity periods are shorter and rules around repeat dispensing are more stringent, varying by drug category. Unlike systems such as Australia’s PBS, which may allow multiple dispensing cycles from a single prescription, Brazil generally requires a new prescription for each dispensing of a controlled medicine. Confirm the validity period with your prescribing doctor or pharmacist at the time of issue.

How much do prescriptions and medications cost in Brazil?

Brazil does not have a flat-rate prescription charge system of the kind used by the NHS in the UK or the co-payment structure of Australia’s PBS. In the private sector, patients generally pay the full market price for prescription medicines dispensed at pharmacies, though ANVISA’s maximum price framework places an upper limit on what can be charged. For patients accessing care through Brazil’s public health system, medications are provided at no cost in most cases, with a small number of exceptions where a contribution is required.

Out-of-pocket spending accounts for approximately 87% of total national expenditure on medicines and medical devices, underscoring the importance of the price regulation framework in keeping costs in check. Through the SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde), Brazil’s public healthcare system, medicines are available free of charge to eligible patients, though the range of drugs available varies.

The most significant state subsidy programme for medicines is the Farmácia Popular (People’s Pharmacy). This scheme provides free medications for a range of chronic conditions including diabetes, asthma, hypertension, osteoporosis, dyslipidaemia (raised cholesterol), rhinitis, Parkinson’s disease, and glaucoma, as well as contraceptives. It also offers subsidised treatment for diabetes associated with cardiovascular disease, and geriatric incontinence products. In cases where a full subsidy does not apply, the Ministry of Health covers up to 90% of the tabulated reference price, with the patient meeting the remainder.

Participating pharmacies distribute 112 types of medicines at discounts of up to 90%. To access medicines through the Farmácia Popular network, patients must present their CPF alongside a valid medical or dental prescription. As of 2025, expats holding a valid CPF and registered within the Brazilian healthcare system may be eligible to benefit from this programme — current eligibility criteria should be confirmed with the Ministry of Health or the nearest local health unit (UBS).

Generic medicines are widely stocked and generally cost considerably less than their branded counterparts. Generic products are identifiable by a yellow stripe bearing a large “G” on the packaging, alongside the name of the active ingredient. Simply asking the pharmacist for the generic version (medicamento genérico) is a practical and effective way to keep costs down. For the most up-to-date maximum price information, consult the ANVISA website or the Chamber for Regulation of the Pharmaceutical Market (CMED).

Will my home-country prescription be accepted in Brazil?

Prescriptions written by doctors practising outside Brazil are generally not recognised by Brazilian pharmacies. Under Brazilian regulations, pharmacies may only dispense prescription medicines on the basis of a valid receita médica issued by a physician who is licensed to practise in Brazil. This is a more restrictive position than that found in some other regions — the European Union, for example, has mutual recognition rules that allow a prescription from one member state to be dispensed in another, but no comparable framework exists between Brazil and other countries.

If you are moving to Brazil with ongoing prescription requirements, the recommended course of action is as follows. First, bring enough of your existing medication from your home country to cover the initial settling-in period (refer to the section below on importing medicines for applicable rules). Then establish care with a doctor in Brazil — through either the public SUS system or a private clinic — and present your existing prescription documentation, including the drug name (preferably using the International Nonproprietary Name, or INN), the prescribed dosage, and a summary of your medical background.

A Brazilian-registered doctor can evaluate your needs and issue a local prescription for the same medication or a suitable equivalent. A letter from your treating physician at home, summarising your diagnosis, current treatment plan, and dosage, will be highly valuable during this consultation. While a formal certified translation is not always a legal requirement for a medical appointment, having key documents rendered into Portuguese will greatly smooth the process.

Bear in mind that some medicines sold under a particular brand name in your home country may be marketed under a different name in Brazil, or may not be available locally at all. The most reliable approach to identifying a local equivalent before your appointment is to search ANVISA’s drug products database using the active ingredient’s INN.

Can I bring my medications into Brazil?

Travellers and those relocating to Brazil are permitted to bring personal medications with them, provided certain rules are followed. Medications carried by incoming travellers may be subject to inspection by health authorities. It is strongly advisable to travel with the relevant prescription or prescriptions, to carry a supply sufficient for the duration of your stay, and to keep medicines in your hand luggage rather than in checked baggage. Retaining medicines in their original packaging facilitates identification and is recommended.

The importation of products classified as medicines, health products, or sanitising products for strictly personal use is exempt from the need for prior authorisation from health inspection authorities at the port of entry or through customs clearance. In practice, this means that standard personal-use quantities of ordinary medications should pass through the border without bureaucratic difficulty, provided they are clearly intended for personal use and are accompanied by appropriate documentation.

Medicines containing substances that are subject to special controls or are prohibited in Brazil are subject to additional requirements. In such cases, travellers must comply with the specific conditions set out in the relevant legislation — including Ordinance SVS/MS No. 344/1998, which governs the control of psychotropic and narcotic substances. If your regular medication falls into a controlled category — such as certain anxiolytics, sleep medications, ADHD treatments, or potent analgesics — you must carry a doctor’s letter and the original prescription, and may need to obtain prior authorisation from ANVISA.

Since January 2023, individual requests for exceptional importation of controlled substances are no longer accepted by email. All such requests must be submitted through ANVISA’s Electronic Information System (SEI), the agency’s digital platform for managing administrative procedures. Failure to comply with the applicable regulations may result in your medication being detained or returned by sanitary or customs authorities. Always consult the ANVISA official website for the latest guidance before you travel, as the rules are subject to change.

As a practical guideline: carry a doctor’s letter in both your home language and Portuguese; keep medicines in original packaging with pharmacy labels intact; bring only a reasonable personal supply — typically up to three months’ worth for ongoing conditions; and declare any controlled substances to customs on arrival.

How do expats access prescription medications through health insurance in Brazil?

Healthcare in Brazil is structured around two parallel systems: the universal public system (SUS — Sistema Único de Saúde), and a private sector accessed through voluntary health insurance plans (planos de saúde). SUS is universal in scope, decentralised in operation, and free at the point of use, although approximately 27% of Brazilians additionally hold voluntary supplementary health insurance. Around 28.5% of the population has access to some form of health management organisation (HMO) coverage.

Expats who are lawfully resident in Brazil and registered with SUS are entitled to use public healthcare services, including medicines dispensed through public pharmacies. The SUS medicines supply is organised into three components: a basic component covering essential medicines for primary healthcare; a strategic component covering treatments for endemic diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS; and a specialised component providing high-cost medicines for chronic and rare conditions. Access to SUS requires registration at a local health unit (Unidade Básica de Saúde, or UBS).

Private health insurance in Brazil (plano de saúde) typically covers the cost of consultations and hospital care, but outpatient prescription medicines are frequently excluded from coverage — patients are generally expected to purchase these out of pocket at a pharmacy. This contrasts with systems such as France’s social security model, under which a substantial share of medicine costs is directly reimbursed. Some Brazilian insurers do offer supplementary pharmacy benefit plans, so it is worth scrutinising the terms of any policy carefully before committing.

The connection between private community pharmacies and SUS is primarily limited to the Farmácia Popular programme, through which medicines for hypertension, diabetes, and asthma are dispensed to any patient holding a valid prescription, with the government reimbursing up to 90% of the tabulated reference price. Expats who meet the relevant eligibility criteria — including holding a CPF and being registered in the system — may be able to benefit from this arrangement. Verify current eligibility with your local health unit or the Ministry of Health.

Expats who have not yet secured local insurance coverage and are not registered with SUS will be responsible for the full market cost of their medications. Given that medicines in Brazil are generally affordable by international standards, most common treatments are manageable on an out-of-pocket basis — but for high-cost or specialist drugs, expenses can escalate considerably. Arranging a comprehensive plano de saúde shortly after arriving in Brazil is strongly recommended.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if I run out of medication in Brazil?

Head to the nearest pharmacy (farmácia or drogaria) as promptly as possible. If the medication is available without a prescription, you can buy it directly. If a prescription is required, visit a private clinic (clínica) or your nearest public health unit (UBS) to be seen by a doctor and obtain a valid Brazilian receita médica. In a genuine emergency, hospital emergency departments (pronto-socorro) are also able to issue prescriptions.

Are brand-name medications available in Brazil?

Yes. Brazilian pharmacies stock both brand-name products (medicamentos de referência) and generic alternatives (medicamentos genéricos) for the majority of common medicines. Generic products are identifiable by a yellow “G” stripe on the packaging and are typically a great deal cheaper than branded equivalents. If you depend on a particular brand, ask the pharmacist directly — major pharmacy chains tend to carry a broad selection.

Can I find a pharmacist who speaks languages other than Portuguese?

In large cosmopolitan cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, it is possible to encounter pharmacy staff with some working knowledge of English or Spanish, especially in areas with a significant expat or tourist presence. However, this is by no means guaranteed. Using a translation application or bringing along a Portuguese-speaking companion to pharmacist consultations involving complex prescriptions is a sensible precaution.

Is it safe to buy medication online in Brazil?

Legal online pharmacies do exist in Brazil, but they must hold a current ANVISA registration. Buying medicines from unregistered online sources carries serious risks, including the possibility of receiving counterfeit or substandard products. Before making any purchase, always confirm that the online pharmacy is registered with ANVISA. Prescription medicines continue to require a valid receita médica for legal dispensing, regardless of whether the purchase is made online or in person.

What happens with my medication in a medical emergency in Brazil?

Brazil’s public emergency services — SAMU (Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência), reachable on 192 — and hospital emergency departments (pronto-socorro) are equipped to respond to acute medical situations and can administer or arrange emergency medications. If you live with a chronic condition, keeping a summary of your medical history and current medications written in Portuguese is advisable, as it will assist emergency clinicians in treating you effectively.

Can pharmacists in Brazil give medical advice or vaccinations?

Unlike in many other countries, Brazilian pharmacists are permitted to make assessments and to administer vaccinations directly. Within the Health Hub (Hub Saúde) sections now found in some pharmacy outlets, pharmacists go further still — offering diagnostic testing and ongoing monitoring for patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes. This makes the pharmacy a genuinely valuable first stop for minor health concerns, well beyond its basic function of dispensing medicines.

How do I know whether a medication I need is available in Brazil under a different name?

Look up your medication using its International Nonproprietary Name (INN) — the standardised scientific name of the active ingredient — in the ANVISA drug products database at gov.br/anvisa. Many medicines marketed under different brand names in other countries contain the same active ingredient and are registered in Brazil under a locally used brand name. Your pharmacist can also assist in cross-referencing the active ingredient to find a locally available equivalent.

Does Brazil’s public health system (SUS) cover expats?

SUS operates as a universal system and is, in principle, open to all lawful residents of Brazil irrespective of their nationality. Once you have established legal residency and obtained a CPF (Brazilian tax identification number), you can register at a local UBS (Unidade Básica de Saúde) and begin accessing public healthcare, including medicines dispensed through public pharmacies and the Farmácia Popular scheme. The quality and availability of services can vary substantially by region, and holding private health insurance alongside SUS access is widely recommended.