Community pharmacies rejoin methadone treatment programme

Community pharmacies will once again take part in treatment programmes for opioid dependence and dependence on other psychoactive substances from 6 June, when Legislation No. 248/2026/1, published today in the Diário da República, enters into force.

The legislation establishes the framework for the participation of community pharmacies in these programmes, including the Methadone Hydrochloride Treatment Programme in Community Pharmacies, strengthening the role of the pharmacy network in the provision of accessible, local healthcare and in the follow-up of people with substance use disorders.

Under the Legislation, legally authorised pharmacies that meet the requirements set out in the applicable legislation and have pharmacists with appropriate training to provide these services may participate in the programmes. Within this framework, pharmacies will ensure the dispensing and administration of prescribed treatment, in accordance with the regimen defined for each person, as well as monitoring treatment adherence and the early identification of any clinically relevant situations. Pharmacies will also play an important role in recording and following up treatments, contributing to the collection of information required for the clinical and scientific evaluation of the programmes.

In the Legislation, the Government highlights the principles of proximity of care, integrated care and coordinated healthcare networks set out in the Statutes of the National Health Service, advocating the development of responses that are closer to citizens’ needs and recognising the role of community pharmacists in implementing integrated, patient-centred therapeutic programmes.

The implementation rules for the programmes will be defined by the Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD), in coordination with the representative associations of pharmacies and pharmaceutical distributors.

With the entry into force of the new framework, community pharmacies will strengthen their contribution to the national response to addictive behaviours and dependencies, providing patients with more accessible, community-based and integrated follow-up.