Viana do Castelo establishes protocol with Solidarity Medicine Network

The protocol, presented by the Councilor for Social Cohesion, Carlota Borges, is established between the Municipality of Viana do Castelo and Dignitude, a private, non-profit Social Solidarity Institution, responsible for the development, operationalization and management of the abem Program: Rede Solidária do Medicine, which aims to guarantee access to medicine on an outpatient basis by any citizen who, in Portugal, finds himself in a situation of economic need that makes it impossible to acquire reimbursed medicines that are prescribed by medical prescription.

The proposal states that “the number of requests for economic support for the acquisition of chronic medication is a recurring reality in the Social Cohesion Division”, indicating that, in 2023, high amounts of medication support were provided to citizens “who presented an economic situation of great fragility and vulnerability and who, as they are beneficiaries of social benefits, with negative capitations, found it difficult to acquire medication, often compromising compliance with therapy and consequently worsening their health status”.

Therefore, the document indicates, the acquisition of a health card is an added value in the context of health promotion and the prevention of situations of social exclusion. At the moment, it is expected that there will be a need to flag around 50 users who are taking chronic medication and who have proven economic insufficiency, and who are therefore eligible to benefit from the measure. The proposal also highlights that, during the evaluation, new situations may arise, which is, therefore, a dynamic process that is supported, in this first phase, with a budget of 8,000 euros for this year.