Portuguese cancer patients wait over two and a half years for new drugs
A new study shows that oncology medicines take an average of 926 days to reach patients in Portugal after EU approval, far longer than the EU average.
Data released at the first Inizio Engage Forum in Lisbon highlighted that Portuguese oncology patients experience a median delay of 926 days from European approval to receiving treatment, exceeding the EU average of 655 days. From 2020 to 2025, Infarmed received 57 oncology drug applications, approving 26 new medicines and authorising 37 early-access schemes. The study found a 61% availability rate for innovative cancer drugs in Portugal, compared with 51% in the broader EU27.
More than half of surveyed patients said they had at least one episode of medication shortage, and the average round-trip distance to the dispensing site was 56 kilometres. The research, conducted by Inizio Engage, combined national and international data from over 70 studies and involved doctors, patients, and caregivers across more than 25 cancer types. It also identified gaps in psychological support, clear information, physiotherapy, patient groups, and financial assistance, with many patients relying on associations for help.
