Where you buy non-prescription meds in Portugal can change your monthly budget
Portuguese consumers can save hundreds of euros a year on over-the-counter medicines depending on where they shop, according to a June 2026 analysis by DECO PROteste, released 18 September 2026. The study confirms that supermarket health counters consistently offer lower prices than traditional pharmacies — a trend unchanged since deregulation in 2005.
Price gaps are largest on common painkillers
The most extreme price difference was found in Paracetamol Generis MG 500 mg (20 tablets), which ranged from €0.99 to €2.70, a 173% variation. Other widely used products showed similar disparities: Voltaren 25 (20 capsules) and Strepfen Mel e Limão (24 units) differed by nearly 70% between outlets. Even the smallest gap, for Voltaren Emulgelex (180g), reached 38%. These aren’t anomalies — they’re routine.
A family buying these items monthly could save up to €240 a year simply by switching from the most expensive retailer to the cheapest.
Wells leads as the most affordable chain
Among supermarket health sections, Wells (Sonae Group) offers the lowest average price for a standard basket of non-prescription medicines. Close behind is Bem-estar (Pingo Doce), at just 1% higher. Saúde e Bem-Estar (Auchan) and Espaço Saúde (El Corte Inglés) are 3% and 6% more expensive, respectively.
For context: if a household spends €50 monthly on pain relief, cold remedies, or basic supplements, opting for Wells over El Corte Inglés saves €36 per year — roughly the cost of three months of tap water and trash collection in Lisbon.
Why prices didn’t fall as expected — and why they still don’t
Since 2005, Portuguese law has allowed non-prescription medicines (MNSRM) to be sold outside pharmacies, as long as retailers hold Infarmed authorization. The intention was that competition would drive prices down. What happened instead? Price competition became uneven.
Pharmacies maintain higher prices because they operate as healthcare service points — offering advice, monitoring drug interactions, and handling complex cases. Supermarket counters operate on high volume and low margins. Their real business isn’t pills — it’s foot traffic.
Studies by DECO PROteste since 2008 show a persistent pattern: prices at pharmacies have risen or stabilized, while supermarket counters keep undercutting them. The Infarmed no longer sets fixed prices — the market did.
Regional differences are real — and unpredictable
The cost of the same medicine basket varies not just by store, but by location. The cheapest region in June 2026 was Coimbra (€266.53), followed by Braga and Aveiro. The most expensive was Beja (€298.90) — a difference of €32.37, equivalent to a full month of public transport passes in northern Portugal.
Curiously, pharmacies show the greatest price swings from city to city. One pharmacy in Faro might sell the same paracetamol at the national low, while another in Braga charges the peak. There’s no logic — just local strategy.
What the numbers tell us about spending
Between January and July 2026, Portuguese consumers spent over €571 million on medicines at pharmacies — up 2.1% from the same period in 2025. Nearly 162 million packs were dispensed, an increase of three million from last year.
Meanwhile, the SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) spent €1.179 billion subsidizing outpatient prescriptions — up €90 million. This reflects rising demand but not necessarily improved health; it may signal a shift in how households choose to self-treat minor conditions instead of turning to doctors.
Don’t assume. Compare.
The assumption that pharmacies offer the best or fairest price is outdated. For everyday painkillers, cold medicine, or digestive aids, always check supermarket counters first.
Wells and Bem-estar are your safest bets. But don’t stop there. Promotions change weekly. A ten-minute scan of weekly flyers could save more than a trip to the pharmacy — and the savings compound over months and years.
The choice isn’t about convenience. It’s about control — over your household budget, your spending habits, and your own health decisions.
