Legislative Assembly proposes law to prioritize medicine supply to Autonomous Regions

The Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira has approved a bill to be sent to the Assembly of the Republic with the aim of amending the legal regime for human-use medicines. The initiative, formalized in Resolution of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira No. 22/2026/M, seeks to ensure the prioritization of the transport and supply of medicines to the Autonomous Regions of Madeira and the Azores.

The proposal recognizes "relevant dysfunctions" and "structural inequalities" in access to medicines in the outermost regions, exacerbated by dependence on air and sea transport modes. To correct this situation, the bill proposes amendments to Decree-Law No. 176/2006, of August 30, introducing binding mechanisms.

The main proposed changes include:

• Priority in supply to the Autonomous Regions to guarantee the principle of territorial continuity.
• In situations of shortage or risk of unavailability, distributors must give priority to the delivery to the air carrier of medicines requested by pharmacies and hospital services.
• The availability of medicines in the Autonomous Regions must occur within a maximum period of 12 hours after the activation of response mechanisms to shortage situations.

The proposal was approved in a plenary session on June 17, 2026, and aims to densify the principle of territorial continuity in the field of access to medicines, ensuring minimum response standards regardless of geographic location.