The federal government facilitated and speeded up free access to sanitary pads for women registered in the federal government’s Single Registry for Social Programs (CadÚnico), who do not have access to the item.
Starting this Tuesday (28), the 44 thousand basic health units (UBS) across the country can issue authorization for the collection of menstrual pads in popular pharmacies by beneficiaries of the federal initiative.
The intimate hygiene product is provided free of charge by the Unified Health System (SUS), in units of the Farmácia Popular Program, through the Menstrual Dignity Program – A Cycle of Respect.
The measure was announced, in Brasília, by the Secretary of Primary Health Care of the Ministry of Health, Ana Luiza Caldas, during the launch of the Women in Health Forum.
“We will have all professionals able to issue authorization for these girls, teenagers, women, who have some type of difficulty in handling digital health”, said the secretary.
Ana Luiza explains that the new method of access to authorization for the collection of menstrual pads by UBS will be added to the website and application My Digital SUS.
“We bring two more forms of access for managers or professionals who are in the units. The objective is to expand access to this input that is so fundamental for the health of our girls and our women”, declared Ana Luiza Caldas.
Since the implementation of the program in 2024, more than 2.5 million people have been served and more than 376 million menstrual pads have been distributed.
Training
Doctors, nurses, nursing technicians and community health agents work in basic health units (UBS). Any professional who works at a UBS will be able to identify eligible people and generate direct authorization in the internal e-SUS systems and in the e-Manager APS (Primary Health Care) so that the beneficiaries can receive the sanitary pads free of charge, later, at an accredited pharmacy.
The secretary adds that around 1 million workers in Primary Health Care will be trained on how to issue authorization to collect sanitary pads in units accredited by Farmácia Popular. Professionals will have a distance learning course (EAD) available to study independently.
“First, we need to make a training offer for these professionals in the network, to raise awareness so that they understand that there is no ready-made recipe for the care of any woman. Each one has its particularities, its uniqueness, and we need to respect them and translate them into quality care”, he explained.
The federal government wants, in this way, to include an increasing number of beneficiaries of the Menstrual Dignity Program.
Teenagers
The Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, announced that teenagers between 12 and 16 years of age will be able to remove their sanitary pads without needing to be accompanied by their parents or guardians.
“Those women under 16, teenagers who are in the Single Registry [CadÚnico]who need access to the absorbent, will be able to get it regardless of having authorization from their father, mother or guardian. We are creating an exception at Farmácia Popular so that they can have access”, he said.
Who is entitled
The benefit is aimed at people aged between 10 and 49, registered with CadÚnico and with a monthly income of up to R$218; low-income public school students (half a minimum wage per month) and homeless people.
The applicant must have an Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF) number and an account on the federal government’s digital services platform, Gov.Br.
Step by step
People who do not have access to menstrual pads can go in person to a Basic Health Unit (UBS) and ask health professionals to print the authorization.
If you prefer the digital format, simply access the My Digital SUSthrough the application or on the website, and activate the Menstrual Dignity Program, clicking on Issue Authorization. The interested person must log in to the Gov.Br website.
The authorization to collect the material is valid for 180 days.
To collect the pads, the beneficiary must present authorization in digital or printed format to a pharmacy accredited in the Farmácia Popular Program. It is also necessary to present an official identification document with a photo and which contains the applicant’s CPF number.
Each woman will be entitled to 40 units of pads, to be used during two menstrual cycles, that is, every 56-day period.
Check accredited pharmacies by the federal government in the Farmácia Popular do Brasil Program in the neighborhood of their city.
