Author:

• Maria Angélica Martins Bueno - Bueno, M. A. M. - <buenoangelicafarmacia@gmail.com>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9930-0219

Co-author(s):

• Taynãna César Simões - Simões, T.C - <taynana.simoes@fiocruz.br>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5849-343X
• Tatiana Chama Borges Luz - Luz, T.C.B. - Belo Horizonte, - <tatianachama@cpqrr.fiocruz.br, tatiana.luz@fiocruz.br>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1323-3105

Abstract:

Cross-sectional study on the availability of prescribed medicines in Primary Health Care (PHC), with a probabilistic sample of 1,221 patientsPHC public pharmacies in a health pole municipality in Minas Gerais, 2017. We estimated indicators of medicines availability and run hierarchical logistic regression following the behavioral model of health services use. Only 39.3% of patients received all medications and in the prescribed quantities. The most and the least available drugs were, respectively, those for the digestive system/metabolism and for blood and hematopoietic organs. Full availability of the prescribed treatment was associated with higher education (≥ 8 years OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.4); proximity to the pharmacy (≤15 min OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.3); absence of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.7-2.9) and lower number of prescription drugs (≤ 2 OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.3-4.4; 3/4 OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2-2.1). These results showed differences in medicines availability within the Brazilian National Healthcare System (SUS) and highlighted the need to reorganize the dispensing services network and the pharmaceutical procurement planning, as well as to develop public policies to protect the vulnerable population.

Keywords:

Primary Health Care; Pharmaceutical Services; Prescriptions; Supply; Medicines.

Content:

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