Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the discussions about pharmaceutical assistance that were held at Conselho Nacional de Secretários de Saúde (CONASS) in the period of 1997 to 2010. Interviews were conducted with six state secretaries of health, who occupied senior positions in CONASS. The data were analyzed by using the software Lexicale par Analyse d’um Ensemble Contexte Segments of Texte (ALCESTE), which identifies the essential information contained in the text. Two main themes were identified in this analysis , which reflect the core content addressed by managers and the position occupied by CONASS in this scenario. The first axis showed the strength of the market in the induction to incorporate new technologies and a phenomena related to consumer culture. A second axis focused on pharmaceutical assistance managing and issues like funding, accessibility, responsibility and legalization were mencioned. In this respect, the contribution of CONASS was evidenced when collating the topics discussed and forwarded by CONASS. This study shows the importance of discussing pharmaceutical assistance considering the complexity of issues related to the topic and points to the need for them to be included when public policies were established for the area.
