This afternoon, PSD Madeira emphasised the importance of ensuring that Madeirans have the same access to medicines as citizens living in mainland Portugal, pointing out the ongoing challenges in the pharmaceutical supply to the Autonomous Region.
During an event at the Farmácia de Santo António, Deputy Joana Silva highlighted that “equitable access to medicine is extremely important for fulfilling a fundamental right of all Portuguese people—the protection of health,” stressing that the State “has a duty to promote the necessary measures to guarantee that access to medicines is ensured across the entire national territory.”
In a press release, the parliamentarian stated that the PSD’s legislative initiative aims to strengthen the current legal framework and uphold the principle of continuity, ensuring that Madeirans have the same access to medicines as Portuguese residents on the mainland. Joana Silva also pointed out that healthcare costs in Madeira are 30% higher and argued that medicines for the region should be prioritised in air cargo transport, while ensuring that deadlines are met to guarantee the timely availability of medicines across the country.
The deputy pointed out that Madeirans still face significant challenges due to their reliance on maritime and air transport, which makes access issues worse when disruptions occur. She noted that even today, Madeirans have noticeably less access to medications than Portuguese citizens on the mainland. The PSD’s proposal, she explained, seeks to enshrine in law the guarantee that Madeirans have the same access to medicines as any other Portuguese citizen.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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