BuscaLicitaçõesBrazilian public tenders in one search

Medicines tenders in Brazil

Accepting bids 976of 23,555 published
Value open now R$ 3.2Bsum of open tenders
Average estimated value R$ 3Mper procurement
Buying agencies 3,8713,068 cities

Updated with the latest publication of Oct 23, 2026 · official PNCP data.

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How the Brazilian government buys medicines

Medicine purchases are among the most frequent in the country: city governments stock their primary-care pharmacies, hospitals replenish inventory, and public health consortia buy jointly to bring prices down. Suppliers need an Operating Authorization (AFE) from Anvisa (Brazil's health regulatory agency), a state or municipal health license and, almost always, proof that the product is registered with Anvisa. Distributors usually compete item by item, with thin margins and high volume.

What the tender notice usually requires

Typical activity code (CNAE): 46.44-3 (wholesale of medicines). Make sure the company's registered business purpose covers the activity before bidding — an incompatible CNAE is grounds for disqualification.

How to prepare to bid in Brazil

Follow new publications daily: between the notice and the bid deadline there are usually about eight business days, and much of that time goes into gathering documents. Download the tender notice and the terms of reference from each tender page, check the specification item by item and work out your minimum price before the bidding phase — including taxes, freight, payment terms and the margin that makes the contract viable.

Micro and small businesses (ME/EPP) get preferential treatment under Brazilian law: a tie preference, extra time to fix tax certificates and, in smaller purchases, exclusive participation. See the step-by-step guide how to participate in a tender.

Who buys the most medicines in Brazil

Medicines by state

São Paulo 7,704Minas Gerais 2,236Rio Grande do Sul 2,155Paraná 1,456Rio de Janeiro 1,400Goiás 1,191Ceará 929Bahia 873Santa Catarina 687Pernambuco 639Espírito Santo 580Paraíba 543Sergipe 453Rio Grande do Norte 412Mato Grosso do Sul 407Distrito Federal 280Pará 267Rondônia 260Mato Grosso 213Alagoas 202Maranhão 178Amazonas 159Tocantins 137Piauí 111Amapá 34Acre 25Roraima 23

Frequently asked questions

How many medicines tenders are open in Brazil?

There are 976 medicines tenders accepting bids in Brazil right now, out of 23,555 published. This page is updated several times a day from the PNCP.

How much does the government spend on medicines?

The average estimated value of these procurements is R$ 2,997,496.11, and the tenders open in Brazil add up to R$ 3,180,311,355.33. The estimated value is the agency's reference price — the final price is usually lower after the bidding phase.

Who buys medicines in Brazil?

3,871 different agencies have published procurements in this category: city governments, city councils, municipal health and education funds, and state and federal bodies. The agencies that buy the most are listed on this page.

What do I need to sell medicines to the Brazilian government?

Besides the standard qualification documents (a CNPJ with a compatible activity code, federal, social security, labor, state and municipal clearance certificates, and financial statements), this category usually requires: Operating Authorization (AFE) from Anvisa; Valid health license; Registration of the medicine with Anvisa; Good Practices Certificate when required. The tender notice always has the final word.

Do I need to be based in Brazil to bid?

No. Electronic tenders are open to companies from anywhere in the country, and Law 14,133/2021 prohibits requiring a local address as a condition to participate. In practice, freight, delivery time and local support affect the price — which is why regional suppliers are often competitive. Foreign companies should read how foreign companies can bid.

Other categories in Brazil

Other Public Procurement 414,190Construction and Engineering Services 50,569Events, Staging Rental, and Shows 34,647Courses and Training 21,103Medical and Hospital Supplies 21,097School Meals and Foodstuffs 20,557Vehicle Maintenance and Parts 16,667Health Services and Accreditation 15,498Computers and IT Equipment 12,981Software and Management Systems 11,769Furniture and Equipment 11,604Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 11,379Equipment Maintenance 11,282Machinery, Implements, and Heavy Equipment 10,946Laboratory Tests and Supplies 10,644Cleaning and Sanitizing Supplies 10,319Accreditation and Public Calls 9,264Building Maintenance and Repairs 9,129Uniforms and PPE 8,774Water, Sewage, and Sanitation 8,706Fuel 8,409Office Supplies 6,954Property Rental 6,803

Tender notices are published in Portuguese, so descriptions appear as the agency wrote them. Search with English or Portuguese keywords — common English terms are translated automatically. New to Brazil? Start with how foreign companies can bid.