[Access to medicines prescribed for acute health conditions in adults in South and Northeast Brazil].
This was a cross-sectional study within Brazil's Project for the Expansion and Consolidation of Family Health, 2005, with the objective of universal and free access to the medication prescribed in the last medical appointment for acute health problems and to estimate the degree to which access may have improved with inclusion of the medicines in prevailing policies and programs. The sample included 4,060 adults living in the area of primary health care units in 41 municipalities in South and Northeast Brazil. Access was greater in the South (83.2%) than in the Northeast (71%), and free access was similar (37%), with a greater share by the Family Health Program (FHP) when compared to the traditional model, especially in the Northeast. Some 60% of prescribed medicines and 50% of those on the National List of Essential Medicines (RENAME) were paid for. No variation was observed in the proportion of medicines present on the prevailing RENAME list and access. However, 40% of the medicines that were paid for can currently be obtained through the Popular Pharmacy Program. The latter program appears to emerge as a new way to guarantee access to medicines prescribed in the health system.
Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, Brazil.
Vera Maria Vieira
VM
Paniz
Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, Brazil.
Isabel Carolina Coelho Flores
IC
Cechin
Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Anaclaudia Gastal
AG
Fassa
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Roberto Xavier
RX
Piccini
Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Elaine
E
Tomasi
Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Elaine
E
Thumé
Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Denise Silva da
DS
Silveira
Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Luiz Augusto
LA
Facchini
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D055553:Prescription Drugs
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D055553:Prescription Drugs