Portuguese pharmacies have sold out of several hundred medicines, especially for hypertension and diabetes, reports Correio da Manhã.

Inderal, a drug used to control hypertension, has been out of stock for several weeks, despite a solution to make it available with the label in Spanish. The difficulty has been reported by the president of the Association of Homes and Rest Homes (ALI), João Ferreira de Almeida, who added that he had been informed that “only in January will it be regularised”.

There is also an open solution for Ozempic (semaglutide), indicated for diabetes, which has sold out due to its use in the fight against obesity. The president of the Portuguese Federation of Associations of People with Diabetes, Emiliana Querido, stresses that “patients cannot be harmed” and calls for measures to ensure medication. There are patients who are now looking for the drug in Spain according to the publication.

Infarmed recognizes the lack of these substances. In October, 858 presentations of lack of medication were identified. Lorenin, Inderal, Ovestin, Ozempic and Cloxam are some of the examples, but Infarmed says that “most have alternatives available”.