There are 140 thousand elderly people, living in Portugal and in a situation of poverty, who will now have all their medicines, subject to medical prescription, free of charge in pharmacies in Portugal.
The new measure is specifically aimed at all beneficiaries of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (CSI) and will be approved next Thursday by the Council of Ministers.
According to a Government source, who confirmed the information released by Correio da Manhã, this measure represents the doubling of the reimbursement for medicines subject to medical prescription dispensed to elderly beneficiaries of the CSI. In total it will cost the State 10.4 million euros.
This is a joint measure by the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security and the Ministry of Health that is part of the “need to adopt policies that safeguard the elderly, especially those who are in a situation of greater vulnerability, through their protection and promotion of aging with dignity”.
Who is entitled to CSI?
CSI is monthly support paid in cash to elderly people living in poverty. Citizens over 66 years of age and with annual income less than or equal to 6,608 euros are eligible. In the case of a couple, this income must be less than or equal to 11,564 euros.
As an example, the Government states that, for a package of Rozor, indicated to reduce cholesterol levels, the user currently pays 11.64 euros, including the current 50% contribution by the State. With 100% reimbursement, the medicine will be free.
Another example highlighted by the Government is the anticoagulant Xarelto, also widely prescribed to older people, whose current cost to the user is 5.14 euros.
The order will be published in Diário da República in the coming days, the source added.
