Brazil's Ministry of Health reported on September 21, 2026, that Farmácia Popular provides 41 items free of charge, including medicines, geriatric diapers and menstrual pads. Its calculation puts potential annual savings for a four-person family using covered products at approximately R$8,800. The estimate uses conditions with high demand in the programme and allows for a person using more than one item.
Within this household example, geriatric diapers account for annual savings of up to R$3,240. The ministry also gives separate savings examples for medicines used for Parkinson's disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions. The R$8,800 figure therefore covers several products across the family.
The article also describes regulations published in August to modernize technology, broaden access and improve monitoring. A permanent working group first met on September 16 to consider additional services, including possible tests and remote consultations, and the use of biometrics in place of physical documents. The ministry said the programme had served more than 24 million people that year.