Brazil Healthcare Blends Retail and Pharmacy

Brazil’s Law No. 15,357, enacted in the first quarter of 2026, amends pharmaceutical retail regulations to permit pharmacies or drugstores operating within supermarkets, creating a new hybrid retail model for over-the-counter medicines, subject to applicable licensing and pharmacy requirements. The model, long established in the United States, is expected to increase consumer convenience while reshaping Brazil’s pharmacy retail landscape.

The new framework is expected to:

•    Increase competition as supermarkets expand their pharmacy operations. 
•    Create downward pressure on prices. 
•    Accelerate integration of pharmacies with loyalty programs, digital commerce, and customer experience platforms. 
•    Increase demand for technologies that improve retail efficiency, inventory management, and omnichannel operations.

Brazil’s pharmaceutical retail market reached R$247.75 billion in sales in the 12 months ending January 2026, representing 10.66% year-over-year growth. Pharmacy networks affiliated with Febrafar, the largest organization of independent pharmacies in Brazil, outperformed the broader market, recording 12.31% growth, underscoring continued expansion and strong consumer demand.

Opportunities for U.S. Companies
The new retail model creates opportunities for U.S. companies with expertise in integrating pharmacy operations into food retail environments. Supermarkets and pharmacy operators are likely to seek advanced pharmacy management software, inventory optimization systems, retail automation, cold-chain technologies, omnichannel platforms, and customer analytics to improve operational efficiency and competitiveness.

Additional opportunities exist for telemedicine platforms, point-of-care diagnostics, health screening technologies, digital health solutions, and retail healthcare consulting, as operators expand healthcare services beyond traditional pharmacy formats. U.S. companies with experience supporting hybrid retail-pharmacy operations, store design, workflow optimization, and healthcare technology integration are well positioned to support Brazil’s evolving pharmaceutical retail market.

For further information, please contact Healthcare Commercial Specialist Julia Milla with the U.S. Commercial Service in São Paulo at julia.milla@trade.gov. To explore additional industry sector intelligence and insights on the Brazilian market, please see Brazil Published Market Intelligence.