Abstract
The objectives of this paper are to describe and to analyze the pharmaceutical services management in some Brazilian municipalities, producing more evidence about problems that may hamper access to medicines in Unified Health System - SUS. We conducted an exploratory, cross-sectional research, drawing up a questionnaire with closed questions on pharmaceutical services management. The sample size was defined in 431 municipalities, selected by stratified random sampling. Only 36 municipalities of 431 answered the questionnaire (8.4%). Of these, 44.4% (n = 16) reported having formalized pharmaceutical services, of which 93.4% (n = 15) have at least one pharmacist. Of the 36 municipalities, 97% (n = 35) reported having drug list for dispensing to citizens and inventory control was considered suitable in 26 of them (72.2%). Fourteen (38.9%) municipalities are complying with court order for drug supply and 13 (36%) have a pharmacist working at Basic Health Units - UBS. In conclusion, the SUS needs to advance much in order to ensure access to medicines and health effectiveness through efficient pharmaceutical services management.
Key words: Pharmaceutical Services. Unified Health System. Health Expenditures. Health Services Accessibility. Health Management.
