Seven out of ten Brazilians are afraid to buy medicines online

When this happens, 85% of those interviewed attribute responsibility to online sales platforms for offering counterfeit, unregistered or unknown medicines.

The survey was carried out at the request of the Brazilian Association of Pharmacy and Drugstore Chains (Abrafarma) and interviewed 2,024 people who are responsible for purchasing medicines at home and who have the habit of making purchases at least once every three months. The interviews were carried out between July 13th and 17th, in all regions of the country.

In addition to counterfeiting, 59% fear receiving expired or improperly stored medicines and 54% cite the risk of purchasing products without registration with the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).

In the perception of the interviewed consumers, the rules for the digital marketing of medicines must be linked to an authorized pharmacy or drugstore (82%), while 71% believe that medicines should not be treated as common goods on digital platforms.

AnvisaIn August, Anvisa revoked measures that prohibited the sale and advertising of medicines on platforms such as iFood, Rappi, Mercado Livre, Submarino, Americanas and Shopee.

The agency clarified, however, that the decision does not represent automatic authorization for the sale of medicines in these channels.

Law No. 15,357/2026 now allows regularly licensed pharmacies and drugstores to contract digital channels and e-commerce platforms exclusively for the purposes of logistics and delivery of medicines to consumers, as long as applicable health regulations are complied with.

The implementation of the measure does not produce immediate effects and still depends on specific regulation from Anvisa, highlighted the CEO of Abrafarma, Sérgio Menna Barreto.

According to him, the online purchase of medicines is conditioned on the existence of “clear rules, accountability and professional supervision, and not just the convenience of the channel”, since medicines require a higher level of control than other categories sold over the internet.

For Abrafarma, any new commercial model must fully preserve the health rules applicable to the dispensing of medicines and the safeguards necessary to protect the health of the population.

“Responsibility for sales and pharmaceutical assistance must remain with regularly licensed pharmacies and drugstores, with the guarantee of professional guidance, prescription control, traceability, adequate storage and transportation.”

On the 19th, Anvisa's Board of Directors unanimously approved the opening of an administrative process to regulate the hiring, by pharmacies, of digital channels and e-commerce platforms for the purposes of logistics and delivery to the consumer.

When contacted by the report, Anvisa informed that regulatory improvements will be made to adapt health rules to Law 15,357/2026.

"For the contracting of commerce platforms and digital channels, as provided by law, Anvisa will still edit the rules. Therefore, the specific article that deals with this item still depends on regulation", concluded the Agency.

During the 15th Ordinary Public Meeting of the Agency's Collegiate Board of Directors in 2026, the rapporteur of the matter, director Daniel Pereira, noted that the measure has the potential to expand the population's access to medicines, also contributing to greater convenience, speed and efficiency in the delivery of products essential to maintaining health.

He made it clear, however, that legislative innovation does not eliminate the existence of relevant health risks.

CFF

Contacted by Agência Brasil, the Federal Pharmacy Council (CFF) highlighted that the entry of the platforms does not represent the sale of medicines over the internet in a random manner.

What will be authorized, after regulation by Anvisa, is the use of platforms by pharmacies for their operation. This position by Anvisa will be charged by the CFF during the regulatory process.

Procon-RJ

The legal director of Procon in the state of Rio de Janeiro (Procon-RJ) Silvio Romero explains that pharmacies and online sales platforms are responsible, to the consumer, for any losses they may have related to the quality and guarantee of the medicines they purchase via the internet.

According to him, as long as there is no Anvisa regulation, only authorized pharmacies can make this sale through digital platforms:

“Anvisa is starting this regulatory process and we are waiting for other conditions that it may eventually impose to continue guaranteeing the quality of products to consumers.”

In the opinion of the director of Procon-RJ, pharmacies and drugstores must look for legal suppliers, who provide “all guarantees that this product will be delivered to the consumer under the conditions established by the drug manufacturer”.

Silvio Romero highlighted that when the sale of medicines through digital platforms is regulated, the consumer must be careful to check several aspects, including the price.

“If he identifies offers well below the market value, incompatible with the price normally charged by pharmacies, this is a first indication for him to distrust this medicine.”

According to him, it will also be important for the consumer to keep all documents relating to the purchase, such as proof of purchase, invoice, advertisement.

“Because, if he has a problem, he will be better able to make a complaint so that the competent bodies can carry out their investigation and, eventually, punish suppliers who are violating the legislation”.

This applies, for example, to the sale of a product that has expired, which is a violation of the Brazilian Defense Code.