OBJECTIVES: Under current economic and financial framework, some important revisions were made to the National Pharmaceutical Policy in Portugal, aimed at decreasing prices and contributing to lower public expenditure in the Health Sector. The Decree-Law 112/2011 introduced a new margin system both for pharmacies and wholesalers. A linear margin scheme, expressed as a percentage mark-up on the consumer price before VAT was thus replaced by a regressive system combining: i) a fixed fee that increases with the ex-factory price of drugs; ii) a regressive margin expressed as a percentage of the ex-factory price. This paper aims to assess: costs associated to the pharmacy dispensing and other pharmacy services provided; the proportion of purchased medicines on total prescribed; the perception of pharmacists and patients regarding changes in access to medicines, namely possible shortages of medicines in Portuguese pharmacies, and other issues. METHODS: In order to access the effects of this policy measure, surveys were carried out to consumers and pharmacies across the country. Four surveys were administered in week 25 to 29 June: survey to Pharmacy Owner; survey following each prescription sale (one day census); survey about pharmacy services not associated to the dispensing of medicines (5-day census). Pharmacists were also requested to administer a survey to patients presenting a prescription.   RESULTS: To be completed after analysis of the surveys (after 29 June) CONCLUSIONS: We will elaborate on a more efficient distribution of medicines in view of both the economic sustainability of pharmacies and the impact on patients.