The “Study of the Value of the Pharmacy Network in Portugal”, coordinated by researchers from the Faculty of Economics and Management of Nova University (Nova SBE), Pedro Brinca and João Duarte, estimates that in 2025 approximately 477,000 actions were registered within the scope of the Minor Clinical Situations (MCS) management service, a 146% increase compared to 2024, with only 2.2% of cases referred for medical consultation, highlighting the potential to reduce pressure on emergency rooms and the SNS24 helpline.

Visiting the pharmacy

Faced with mild symptoms, 57.2% of Portuguese people first go to a pharmacy, while 16.5% opt for health centres and 12.1% for the SNS24 helpline, a pattern common across all regions and age groups, according to the study to be presented today at the 15th Pharmacy Congress in Lisbon.

The study identifies urinary tract infections and acute oropharyngeal infections as common conditions that can benefit from proximity management. Last year, these situations represented 4,218 and 34,250 visits to pharmacies, respectively.

Seasonal vaccination

The researchers highlight seasonal vaccination and the response to SCL as the services with the greatest impact, emphasising the contribution of proximity to complement the SNS response, avoid travel, and reduce emissions.

In 2024/25, the services provided by pharmacies prevented more than 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, mainly by reducing travel to NHS units. These results are further enhanced by the Valormed system, which collected 1,262 tons of pharmaceutical and packaging waste, preventing an additional 436 tons of CO2.

Customers visits

Last year, the 2,920 pharmacies and approximately 200 pharmaceutical outlets in the country registered 174.3 million customer visits, more than 550,000 per working day, being the main point of contact with the health system for many people.

According to a study by Nova SBE and the National Association of Pharmacies (ANF), 82% of Portuguese people live within 5 kilometres of a pharmacy (41% travel on foot), while 53% live the same distance from a health centre, and only 13.7% live the same distance from a hospital.

In a statement, the study's promoters affirm that “beyond the impact on health, the sector makes a significant contribution to the national economy and is a factor in the development of territories, particularly in the interior,” and that it has helped reduce the National Health Service's expenditure.

Among the services analysed, seasonal vaccination stands out, with an estimated net saving of approximately €34 million annually, and dispensing hospital medications in proximity, with approximately €5 million.

The total economic impact of the activity was estimated at €3,230 million, equivalent to 1.12% of national GDP.

Job opportunities

Community pharmacies are directly responsible for 21,632 jobs, with a greater presence in the country's interior. "Each job in pharmacies creates an additional 1.45 jobs in the rest of the economy."

In 2024, the sector generated approximately €3.985 billion in turnover, "on a scale comparable to Autoeuropa, but instead of being concentrated in a single territory, it is distributed among micro and small businesses present in all 308 municipalities of the country and islands," she emphasises.

According to the INE's 'Input-Output' analysis, the sector is responsible for €2.496 billion in Gross Value Added and 53,000 sustained jobs nationwide.

Enhancing Portuguese economy

"For every euro of production generated by pharmacies, €3.21 of total production is created in the Portuguese economy," she points out, adding that "the annual fiscal impact amounts to €1.214 billion in revenue for the State, through VAT, IRS, Social Security and IRC, a value equivalent to 7.8% of the SNS budget in 2024."

For the president of ANF, Ema Paulino, the study "highlights the strategic potential of pharmacies, due to their widespread reach, proximity, and the trust they inspire in the population, reinforcing their role as agents of territorial cohesion and development, and as partners of the National Health Service (SNS) in providing a more efficient and citizen-centred healthcare response."