The law, published in Diário da República, follows the State Budget Law, which established full reimbursement (100%) of hybrid subcutaneous insulin infusion systems, provided they are prescribed by a specialist doctor from a diabetes treatment centre and financed by the National Health Service, but which did not cover patients residing in the region, creating “unjustified discrimination and infringing the fundamental right to health, in violation of the principle of equal access to healthcare”.

The regional legislative decree was approved by the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores on 9 December 2025, in Horta, ensuring full reimbursement of medical devices for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus, which allows Azorean patients free access to innovative automatic insulin delivery systems.

According to the regional legislative decree, published in Diário da República, 100% of the cost will be covered by the Regional Health Service, upon prescription by a specialist doctor, within the legally established price limits and marketing margins.

According to the decree consulted by the Lusa agency, the reimbursement scheme covers hybrid continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) systems, continuous interstitial glucose monitoring (CGM) systems compatible with CSII, and the consumables necessary for their operation.

The reimbursement includes replacing previously assigned non-hybrid systems and assigning hybrid devices to children and young people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The devices will be dispensed through community pharmacies, in accordance with the normal distribution circuit, with maximum marketing margins set for wholesalers and pharmacies.

Prescriptions will be issued through the electronic system.

In exceptional situations, co-payment may be authorised for prescriptions that exceed the established limits, provided that they are duly justified by the prescribing doctor.

“The treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) systems aims to replicate the physiological secretion of insulin by the pancreas, significantly improving glycaemic control and patients’ quality of life,” the decree further states.

Therefore, “it is necessary to eliminate this inequality and guarantee Azorean patients with T1DM the same access to innovative medical devices through the creation of a co-payment scheme,” it further explains.

The decree comes into force on the day following its publication.