The Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla is introducing a subsidy from Monday 9 November 2026 that will allow pensioners to obtain medicines prescribed under the public health system from pharmacies without paying a contribution. The Consejería de Políticas Sociales y Salud Pública said. The aim is to cover eligible residents’ full contribution under the copago farmacéutico in Melilla.
According to the city administration, medicines will be dispensed through pharmacies, which will claim reimbursement from the administration. Patients must have a valid Tarjeta Sanitaria from the national health system, which in Melilla is managed by the Instituto Nacional de Gestión Sanitaria (INGESA). The technical arrangements at pharmacies have reportedly been completed in recent days, making it possible to launch the programme on 9 November.
The legal and organisational basis is a cooperation agreement with the Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos approved by the city council in July 2026, as well as a recently published administrative regulation. The procedural arrangements are documented in the official gazette, the BOME including the conditions for pharmacies to participate and the requirements for reimbursement documentation. The city says the mechanism will be linked to the existing electronic prescription system.
Funding for the programme has been allocated in the 2026 budget of the Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla. The administration will announce the exact annual amount once reimbursements are under way. The department responsible said the move would ease the financial burden on older people and improve access to necessary treatment. The city has not yet said how many people are expected to benefit.
The measure applies only to people whose Tarjeta Sanitaria was issued in Melilla, making it a clearly defined group. National rules on copago farmacéutico remain unchanged; nationwide changes are the responsibility of Spain’s legislature and central administration. Politically, covering these charges boosts local pensioners’ purchasing power and adherence to treatment, but adds to the pressure on the city budget. The cost will depend on actual take-up and the prices of prescribed medicines.
The measure was announced on 8 November, one day before its planned start. If there are any last-minute technical delays, the administration says it will inform pharmacies and launch the programme as soon as possible afterwards.
Editor: Clara Simonichek (Article created with AI assistance).