Michèlle Canes
- Agência Brasil

Brasília - The ability to sell drugs at a low price in commercial pharmacies is a positive advance in the country's healthcare system, says the pharmaceutical trade association (Federação Brasileira da Indústria Farmacêutica) (Febrafarma). And with the integration of commercial pharmacies and the state-run Farmacia Popular, people who formerly were unable to buy drugs will be directly benefitted.

"This is a measure that dovetails with the industry's objectives. We believe we do have a social function. We follow economic logic as we strive to expand the consumer market (where millions of Brazilians are excluded)," declared a Febrafarma spokesperson.

Febrafarma added that it sees a place in the future of the drug market for endeavors such as Farmacia Popular "capable of generating multiple benefits for the population in terms of health and quality of life, as well as expanding the market, increasing competitivity and knowledge."

Translation: Allen Bennett