The order, published on March 31, 2026, aims to maintain a quality pharmaceutical service close to the different continuous care areas. Special pharmaceutical zones were established for those with low population density (less than 10 inhabitants/km²), a single pharmacy, or compromised economic viability.
A total of 18 of these zones correspond to the health area of Ourense, Verín, and O Barco de Valdeorras, and 8 to the area of Lugo, A Mariña, and Monforte de Lemos. The beneficiary pharmacies in the province of Ourense were those in A Teixeira, Larouco, A Peroxa, and San Xoán de Río. In the province of Lugo, Baleira, Cervantes, and Folgoso do Courel were beneficiaries.
The declaration of a special pharmaceutical zone allows for the application of special conditions in the provision of on-call services and pharmaceutical care in socio-sanitary residences with fewer than 100 residents, aiming to guarantee access to medicines and consolidate the rural population.
