Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health surveillance work. / Efeitos da pandemia de COVID-19 no trabalho em vigilância sanitária.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged managers and exposed weaknesses in health systems. In Brazil, the pandemic emerged amid difficulties to work in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and in health surveillance (HS). The purpose of this article is to analyze the effects of COVID-19 on the organization, working conditions, management, and performance of HS, according to the perception of capital city managers from three regions of Brazil. This is an exploratory, descriptive research with qualitative analysis. The Iramuteq software was used in the treatment of the textual corpus and analysis of descending hierarchical classification, which generated four classes: characteristics of HS work during the pandemic (39.9%), HS organization and working conditions during the pandemic (12.3%), effects of the pandemic on work (34.4%), and the class of the health protection of workers and the population (13.4%). HS implemented remote work, expanded work shifts, and diversified its actions. However, it faced difficulties with personnel, infrastructure, and insufficient training. The present study also pointed out the potential for joint actions concerning HS.

A pandemia de COVID-19 desafiou gestores e explicitou fragilidades dos sistemas de saúde. No Brasil, a pandemia surgiu em meio a dificuldades para o trabalho no SUS e na vigilância sanitária (VISA). O objetivo deste artigo é analisar os efeitos da COVID-19 sobre a organização, as condições de trabalho, a gestão e a atuação de VISA, conforme a percepção de gestores de capitais de três regiões do Brasil. É uma pesquisa exploratória, descritiva, com análise qualitativa. Utilizou-se o software Iramuteq no tratamento do corpus textual e a análise de classificação hierárquica descendente gerou quatro classes: características do trabalho de VISA na pandemia (39,9%), organização e condições de trabalho de VISA na pandemia (12,3%), efeitos da pandemia sobre o trabalho (34,4%) e proteção da saúde de trabalhadores e da população (13,4%). A VISA implantou trabalho remoto, ampliou turnos de trabalho e diversificou suas ações. Entretanto, enfrentou dificuldades de pessoal, infraestrutura e capacitação insuficiente. O estudo apontou as potencialidades das ações conjuntas para a VISA.

[Medical device reprocessing: a regulatory model proposal for Brazilian hospitals]. / Reprocessamento de produtos médicos: uma proposta de modelo regulatório para hospitais brasileiros.

Medical device reprocessing is extremely important and complex, thus requiring both the operational skills for its implementation and the technical qualification of the professionals involved in the activity. The typical issues of medical device reprocessing involve technical, economical and regulatory aspects when involving either the so-called reusable articles or those considered as for a single use. The objective of the present study is to propose a new regulatory model for medical device reprocessing in Brazil that would, on the one hand, satisfy the requirements for quality and safety, as recommended in the literature and, on the other hand, prove to be operational under the conditions prevailing in Brazilian hospitals. The elaboration of the present normative proposal was based on the Consensus Conference technique among specialists in the area. Guided by the contribution of these specialists, a proposal is put forth of a regulatory model for reprocessing medical products, so as to address some previously identified gaps in the normative body currently used in Brazil.

[Pharmaceutical practice in Bahia in the latter half of the 19th century]. / O exercício farmacêutico na Bahia da segunda metade do século XIX.

The nineteenth century brought the progressive demarcation of the professions devoted to the healing arts in Brazil, with a emphasis on rights and responsibilities. Academic medicine made a growing distinction between those who prescribed medicine and those who engaged in making or selling it. The article explores this process, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical practice in the province of Bahia in the latter half of the century. Within this context, it addresses changes and constancies in laws and in their local enforcement as well as relations between pharmacists, on the one hand, and, on the other, the government, physicians, and those who made or sold medicine illegally or without authorization.

[Control of health risks in radiodiagnosis: a historic approach]. / Controle de riscos a saúde em radiodiagnóstico: uma perspectiva histórica.

This paper presents the history of the discovery of ionizing radiation, as well as its biological effects and the resulting need to control subsequent health risks. It describes the historic evolution of risk control in radiodiagnosis in Brazil, demonstrating that it may be associated not only to the dose received, but also to errors in diagnosis and to costs to the health system. It is stressed that sanitary regulations have a broad remit of social co-responsibility to involve all the players with a view to safeguarding health.

Unified health system 30th birthday: health surveillance. / SUS 30 anos: Vigilância Sanitária.

This article presents an overview of the nature, functions and history of health surveillance in the structure of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Bibliographical sources and official documents were used, with references from the careers of the authors, who have worked in health surveillance. Extremely serious adverse events in the mid-1990s gave political visibility to the fragility of Brazilian health surveillance, and were reflected in serious problems for the SUS. The creation of Anvisa and the SNVS surveillance system, and the support for bodies in individual states and municipalities, resulted in improvement in the structure and functioning of health surveillance, and improved recognition of the area as an emerging theme in research and education in public health. Several problems hamper the effective structuring of the SNVS. A change in the conception/design of health promotion is postulated, in which the large corporations, whose activities have strong connections with risk factors related to the current epidemic of chronic diseases, would be given a social responsibility. A set of challenges for better structuring of health surveillance in the SUS is also put forward.

Este artigo apresenta uma visão geral sobre a natureza, as funções e a trajetória da vigilância sanitária na conformação do SUS. Recorreu-se a fontes bibliográficas e a documentos oficiais, cuja discussão foi enriquecida com referências oriundas da trajetória dos autores, bastante vinculada a esta área. Verdadeiras tragédias ocorridas nos anos 1990 evidenciaram a fragilidade da vigilância sanitária e trouxeram graves problemas ao SUS. A criação da Anvisa e do SNVS e o apoio aos órgãos estaduais e municipais proporcionaram melhoria na estrutura e funcionamento do sistema e também para o reconhecimento da área enquanto tema emergente na pesquisa e no ensino em Saúde Coletiva. Diversos problemas ainda dificultam a efetiva estruturação do SNVS. Postula-se mudança da concepção de promoção da saúde, com responsabilização social das grandes corporações, cujas atividades têm fortes conexões com fatores de risco relacionados à atual epidemia de doenças crônicas, e refere-se um elenco de desafios para melhor estruturação da vigilância sanitária no SUS.

Efeitos da pandemia de COVID-19 no trabalho em vigilância sanitária / Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health surveillance work

Resumo A pandemia de COVID-19 desafiou gestores e explicitou fragilidades dos sistemas de saúde. No Brasil, a pandemia surgiu em meio a dificuldades para o trabalho no SUS e na vigilância sanitária (VISA). O objetivo deste artigo é analisar os efeitos da COVID-19 sobre a organização, as condições de trabalho, a gestão e a atuação de VISA, conforme a percepção de gestores de capitais de três regiões do Brasil. É uma pesquisa exploratória, descritiva, com análise qualitativa. Utilizou-se o software Iramuteq no tratamento do corpus textual e a análise de classificação hierárquica descendente gerou quatro classes: características do trabalho de VISA na pandemia (39,9%), organização e condições de trabalho de VISA na pandemia (12,3%), efeitos da pandemia sobre o trabalho (34,4%) e proteção da saúde de trabalhadores e da população (13,4%). A VISA implantou trabalho remoto, ampliou turnos de trabalho e diversificou suas ações. Entretanto, enfrentou dificuldades de pessoal, infraestrutura e capacitação insuficiente. O estudo apontou as potencialidades das ações conjuntas para a VISA.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged managers and exposed weaknesses in health systems. In Brazil, the pandemic emerged amid difficulties to work in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and in health surveillance (HS). The purpose of this article is to analyze the effects of COVID-19 on the organization, working conditions, management, and performance of HS, according to the perception of capital city managers from three regions of Brazil. This is an exploratory, descriptive research with qualitative analysis. The Iramuteq software was used in the treatment of the textual corpus and analysis of descending hierarchical classification, which generated four classes: characteristics of HS work during the pandemic (39.9%), HS organization and working conditions during the pandemic (12.3%), effects of the pandemic on work (34.4%), and the class of the health protection of workers and the population (13.4%). HS implemented remote work, expanded work shifts, and diversified its actions. However, it faced difficulties with personnel, infrastructure, and insufficient training. The present study also pointed out the potential for joint actions concerning HS.

Situação sanitária dos medicamentos na atenção primária no Sistema Único de Saúde nas capitais do Brasil / Technical issues and conservation conditions of medicines in the Primary Care in the Unified Health System in the capitals of Brazil

Introdução: As farmácias, no âmbito do SUS, devem cumprir as normas sanitárias, bem como seguir as diretrizes estabelecidas pelo Ministério da Saúde, a fim de garantir o acesso a medicamentos seguros, efetivos e de qualidade. Objetivo: Caracterizar a situação sanitária dos medicamentos na atenção primária no SUS, nas capitais do Brasil, segundo as regiões, no tocante a: requisitos técnico-sanitários, condições de armazenamento, itens de segurança contra incêndio e pane elétrica, condições ambientais, sistema de controle de estoque, fracionamento, gerenciamento de resíduos, regulação da publicidade/promoção de medicamentos, ações relacionadas à farmacovigilância e ao transporte. Método: Estudo transversal, exploratório, abarcando 455 farmácias de serviços de atenção primária das capitais do Brasil que constituem uma subamostra da Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM). Utilizou-se um roteiro de observação e entrevistas com os responsáveis pela assistência farmacêutica (n = 24) e responsáveis pela entrega de medicamentos dos serviços (n = 108). Resultados: Constatou-se o descumprimento de requisitos técnicos e sanitários que podem interferir na manutenção da sua estabilidade, qualidade, eficácia e segurança, indicando problemas de gestão, infraestrutura e qualidade dos serviços farmacêuticos, além de possível incremento de custos para o sistema devido a perdas. Condições sanitárias mais deficitárias foram encontradas nas capitais do Norte e Nordeste e mais favoráveis nas demais. Conclusões: As farmácias enfrentam problemas de gestão, infraestrutura, organização e qualidade dos serviços farmacêuticos que podem comprometer a qualidade dos medicamentos oferecidos e incrementar custos para o sistema. O aprimoramento da gestão, os investimentos em infraestrutura e na qualificação dos recursos humanos e o aprimoramento da fiscalização da Vigilância Sanitária se fazem urgentes para que as políticas de medicamentos e de assistência farmacêutica sejam efetivas.

Introduction: Pharmacies, within the scope of the Unified Health System (SUS), must comply with health standards, as well as follow the guidelines established by the Ministry of Health to guarantee access to safe, effective and quality medicines. Objective: To characterize the technical issues and conservation conditions of medicines of primary care in the Unified Health System, in the capitals of Brazil, grouped by regions, about technical-sanitary requirements, storage and environmental conditions, fire safety and electrical breakdown items, control system of inventory, fractionation, waste management, regulation of advertising/promotion of medicines, actions related to pharmacovigilance and transport. Method: Cross-sectional, exploratory study, covering 455 pharmacies in primary care services in the capitals of Brazil, which constitute a subsample of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM). An observation guide and interviews were used with those responsible for pharmaceutical assistance (n = 24) and those responsible for delivering medicines to services (n = 108). Results: Non-compliance with technical and sanitary conditions, which can interfere in maintaining stability, quality, efficacy, and safety, indicating management problems, infrastructure and quality of pharmaceutical services were identified, in addition to possible increased costs for the system due to losses. More deficient sanitary conditions in general were found in the capitals of the North and Northeast and better conditions in the capitals of other regions. Conclusions: Pharmacies of the SUS primary health network face problems in management, infrastructure, organization, and quality of pharmaceutical services that can compromise the quality of the medicines offered, and increase costs for the system. Improvement of management, investments in infrastructure and in the qualification of human resources, and improvement of inspection and health surveillance are urgently needed for essential medicines and pharmaceutical assistance policies to be effective.

Vigilância Sanitária em Debate: 10 anos de contribuição ao conhecimento em saúde / Health Surveillance in Debate: 10 years of contributions to knowledge in healthcare

Este debate, resultado de um breve estudo sobre o periódico Vigilância Sanitária em Debate: Sociedade, Ciência & Tecnologia (Visa em Debate) em sua primeira década, teve como objetivo apresentar uma visão panorâmica das publicações, que foram classificadas em categorias previamente definidas; também foram identificadas as instituições às quais os autores das publicações estavam vinculados. A categoria Objetos sob Controle Sanitário abriga o maior quantitativo de publicações, com 72,0% do total, entre as quais predominam alimentos, medicamentos, e serviços de saúde e de interesse da saúde. As categorias Sistema Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária; Regulação e Vigilância Sanitária; Doenças, Agentes, Epidemiologia; e Tecnologias Analíticas apresentam quantitativos semelhantes, em torno de 7,0%. Entre as instituições de vínculos dos autores, as universidades e outras instituições de ensino superior são aquelas com maior número de vínculos, em todas as regiões. A Região Sudeste concentra o maior número de referências, seguida do Nordeste, Sul, Centro-Oeste e, por último, a Região Norte. Também foram referidos vínculos a universidades de outros países, como Canadá, França, Portugal e Colômbia. Observou-se uma grande diversidade de temáticas em todas as categorias de classificação das publicações, também lacunas e/ou poucos trabalhos em certos temas relevantes para a área. Este estudo denota que o periódico vem se constituindo um relevante veículo de disseminação do conhecimento em saúde em geral e vigilância sanitária em especial. Neste pouco tempo já foi indexada em importantes bases de dados científicos e conta com uma boa classificação Qualis/Capes na área interdisciplinar da saúde, o que contribui para um número crescente de publicações oriundas de renomadas universidades.

This debate is the result of a brief study in the journal Health Surveillance in Debate: Society, Science & Technology (Visa em Debate) in its first decade. The objective is to present a panoramic view of the publications of this journal. The articles were classified into previously defined categories and the institutions to which the authors of the publications were linked were also identified. The category "Objects Under Sanitary Control" contains the largest number of publications, with 72.0% of the total, among which food, medicines and health services predominated. The categories "National Health Surveillance System", "Health Regulation and Surveillance", "Diseases, Agents, Epidemiology", and "Analytical Technologies" presented similar amounts of around 7.0%. Among the authors' affiliation institutions, universities and other higher education institutions are the ones with the highest number, in all regions. The Southeast region possesses the largest number of references, followed by the Northeast, South, Midwest, and finally the North region. In addition, links to universities in other countries, such as Canada, France, Portugal, and Colombia, were mentioned. A great diversity of themes was observed in all categories of classification and there are still gaps and/or few works in certain themes that are relevant to the area. This study shows that the journal has become a relevant vehicle for the dissemination of knowledge in health in general, and sanitary surveillance, in particular. In this short time, this journal has already been indexed in relevant scientific databases and has a good Qualis/Capes classification in the interdisciplinary area of health, which contributes to a growing number of publications from renowned universities.

Desafos à atuação dos trabalhadores de Vigilância Sanitária nos serviços de saúde / Challenges to the performance of health surveillance workers in health services

Introdução: A vigilância sanitária é uma função precípua do Estado para proteção da saúde individual e coletiva mediante ações de controle de riscos, atuais ou potenciais, presentes na produção de bens e serviços, e integra o Sistema Único de Saúde. A vigilância sanitária de serviços de saúde é parte do escopo de atuação da Vigilância Sanitária (Visa) para o controle dos riscos e iatrogenias nos serviços de saúde. Objetivo: Analisar desafios à atuação dos trabalhadores de Visa nos serviços de saúde. Método: O estudo, de abordagem qualitativa, integra uma pesquisa financiada pelo CNPQ para análise do controle sanitário realizado pelas Visa em serviços de saúde da atenção básica e especializada. Utilizou-se a técnica de Grupo Focal com trabalhadores da Visa de oito estados brasileiros. As falas foram transcritas e analisadas segundo a técnica de análise de conteúdo temática, sistematizadas em duas categorias: Gestão e Organização dos Serviços e Condições de Trabalho. Resultados: Identificou-se problemas e desafios, tais como: incipiente planejamento das ações; dificuldades na organização do trabalho decorrentes da rotatividade de gestores, da falta de recursos humanos e tecnológicos, da ausência de coordenação e da integração dos níveis do Sistema Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Emergiram insatisfações e desafios sobre condições de trabalho, precarizações dos vínculos, baixos salários, equipes incompletas e necessidade de concursos públicos e de valorização do trabalho. Conclusões: A atuação da Visa em serviços de saúde requer a superação de múltiplos desafios, que perpassam a integração das ações nos distintos níveis de gestão e questões de capacitação, incorporação de tecnologias e de readequação de processos de trabalho.

Introduction: Health surveillance (Visa) is a primary function of the State for the protection of individual and collective health through risk control actions, current or potential, present in the production of goods and services, and is part of SUS (Brazilian Universal Health System). Health surveillance of health services is part of Visa's scope of action for the control of risks and iatrogenic diseases in health services. Objective: To analyze challenges to the performance of Visa in health services. Method: The study, with a qualitative approach, integrates research funded by CNPq to analyze the sanitary control carried out by Visa in health services of primary and specialized care; the Focus Group technique was used with Visa workers from 8 Brazilian states. The speeches were transcribed and analyzed according to the thematic content analysis technique, systematized in two categories: Management and Organization of Services, and Working Conditions. Results: Problems and challenges were identifed, such as: incipient planning of actions; difculties in the organization of work, resulting from the turnover of managers, the lack of human and technological resources, and the lack of coordination and integration of the levels of the National Health Surveillance System. Dissatisfactions and challenges about working conditions, precarious employment conditions, low wages, incomplete teams and the need for public tenders and work valorization emerged. Conclusions: Visa's performance in health services requires overcoming multiple challenges, which permeate the integration of actions at different levels of management and training issues, incorporation of technologies and readjustment of work processes.

Main characteristics of patients of primary health care services in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize patients of primary health care services according to demographic and socioeconomic aspects, habits and lifestyle, health condition, and demand for health services and medicines. METHODS: This study is part of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos - Serviços (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services), a cross-sectional study carried out between 2014 and 2015. Interviews were conducted with patients over the age of 17 years, with a standardized questionnaire, in primary health care services of a representative sample of cities, stratified by regions of Brazil. The analysis was performed for complex samples and weighted according to the population size of each region. RESULTS: A total of 8,676 patients were interviewed, being 75.8% women, most of them aged from 18 to 39 years; 24.2% men, most of them aged from 40 to 59 years; 53.7% with elementary school; 50.5% reported to be of mixed race ethnicity, 39.7%, white, and 7.8%, black. Half of patients were classified as class C and 24.8% received the Bolsa Familia benefit. Only 9.8% had health insurance, with higher proportion in the South and lower in the North and Midwest. The proportion of men who consumed alcohol was higher than among women, as well as smokers. The self-assessment of health showed that 57% believed it to be very good or good, with lower proportion in the Northeast. The prevalence of chronic diseases/conditions, such as hypertension (38.6%), dyslipidemia (22.7%), arthritis/rheumatism (19.4%), depression (18.5%), diabetes (13.6%), and others are higher in these patients them among the general population. Medicines were predominantly sought in the health care service or in pharmacies of the Brazilian Unified Health System. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to characterize the profile of patients of Primary Health Care, but the originality of the research and its national scope hinders the comparison of results with official data or other articles.

Pharmaceutical care in Brazil's primary health care.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the activities of clinical nature developed by pharmacists in basic health units and their participation in educational activities aiming at health promotion. METHODS: This article is part of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos - Serviços, 2015 (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services, 2015), a cross-sectional and exploratory study, of evaluative nature, consisting of a survey of information in a representative sample of cities, stratified by the Brazilian regions that constitute domains of study, and a subsample of primary health care services. The interviewed pharmacists (n=285) were responsible for the delivery of medicines and were interviewed in person with the use of a script. The characterization of the activities of clinical nature was based on information from pharmacists who declared to perform them, and on participation in educational activities aiming at health promotion, according to information from all pharmacists. The results are presented in frequency and their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: From the interviewed subjects, 21.3% said they perform activities of clinical nature. Of these, more than 80% considered them very important; the majority does not dispose of specific places to perform them, which hinders privacy and confidentiality in these activities. The main denominations were "pharmaceutical guidance" and "pharmaceutical care." The registration of activities is mainly made in the users' medical records, computerized system, and in a specific document filed at the pharmacy, impairing the circulation of information among professionals. Most pharmacists performed these activities mainly along with physicians and nurses; 24.7% rarely participated in meetings with the health team, and 19.7% have never participated. CONCLUSIONS: Activities of clinical nature performed by pharmacists in Brazil are still incipient. The difficulties found point out to the professionals' improvisation and effort. The small participation in educational activities of health promotion indicates little integration of pharmacists with the health team and of pharmaceutical services with other health actions.

Workforce in the pharmaceutical services of the primary health care of SUS, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the workforce in the pharmaceutical services in the primary care of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). METHODS This is a cross-sectional and quantitative study, with data from the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos - Serviços, 2015 (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services, 2015). For the analysis, we considered the data stratification into geographical regions. We analyzed the data on workers in the municipal pharmaceutical services management and in the medicine dispensing units, according to the country's regions. For the statistical association analysis, we carried out a Pearson correlation test for the categorical variables. RESULTS: We analyzed 1,175 pharmacies/dispensing units, 507 phone interviews (495 pharmaceutical services coordinators), and 1,139 professionals responsible for medicine delivery. The workforce in pharmaceutical services was mostly constituted by women, aged from 18 to 39 years, with higher education (90.7% in coordination and 45.5% in dispensing units), having permanent employment bonds (public tender), being for more than one year in the position or duty, and with weekly work hours above 30h, working both in municipal management and in medicine dispensing units. We observed regional differences in the workforce composition in dispensing units, with higher percentage of pharmacists in the Southeast and Midwest regions. CONCLUSIONS: The professionalization of municipal management posts in primary health care is an achievement in the organization of the workforce in pharmaceutical services. However, significant deficiencies exist in the workforce composition in medicine dispensing units, which may compromise the medicine use quality and its results in population health.

Medicine dispensing service in primary health care of SUS.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the medicine dispensing services in the primary health care network in Brazil and in its different regions, aiming to promote the access and rational use of medicines. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, quantitative study with data obtained from the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines), 2015. Observation visits were carried out in 1,175 dispensing units, and interviews were held with 1,139 professionals responsible for the dispensation of medicines in the dispensing units and 495 municipal coordinators of pharmaceutical services. RESULTS: More than half (53%) of the units presented a space smaller than 10 m2 for dispensing of medicines; 23.8% had bars or barriers between users and dispenser; 41.7% had computerized system; and 23.7% had counters for individual care. Among those responsible for dispensation, 87.4% said they always or repeatedly inform users how to use the medicines, and 18.1% reported developing some type of clinical activity. Isolated pharmacies presented a more developed physical and personal structure than those belonging to health units, but we found no significant differences regarding the information provided and the development of clinical activities. CONCLUSIONS: There are major differences in the organization models of dispensation between cities, with regional differences regarding the physical structure and professionals involved. The centralization of medicine dispensing in pharmacies separated from the health services is associated with better structural and professional conditions, as in the dispensing units of the South, Southeast, and Midwest regions. However, the development of dispensation as health service does not prevail in any pharmacy or region of the Country yet.

Infrastructure of pharmacies of the primary health care in the Brazilian Unified Health System: Analysis of PNAUM - Services data.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the infrastructure of the primary health care pharmacies of the Brazilian Unified Health System, aiming at humanizing the offered services. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, of quantitative approach, from data obtained in the Pesquisa Nacional de Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos - Serviços, 2015 (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services, 2015). Information on 1,175 pharmacies/dispensing units were gathered from direct observation and assessment of dispensing units installations conducted by trained researchers who used a standardized form. The analyzed variables refer to the physical structure of pharmacies or medicine dispensing units of the health units under research. RESULTS: The pharmacy area was greater than 14 m2 in 40.3% of the sampled units, highlighting those from Midwest (56.9%) and Southeast (56.2%) regions and those of Northeast, with only 23.3%. About 80.2% units had waiting rooms with chairs for patients, 31.8% of them had dispensing areas inferior to 5m2, while in 46.2% these areas were superior to 10m2. Bars were found in service counters in 23.8% of health units, thus separating the patient from the professional; 44.1% had internet access. In most units, the area of medicine storage had no refrigerator or freezer for their exclusive storage and 13.7% had a specific room for pharmaceutical consultation. CONCLUSION: Aiming at achieving care humanization and improving working conditions for professionals, the structuring of the environment of pharmacy services is necessary. This would contribute to the better qualification of pharmacy services, comprising more than medicine delivery. Data on the Northeast region indicated less favorable conditions to the development of adequate dispensing services. Based on the panorama pointed out, we suggest the expansion of stimulus concerning the physical structure of pharmaceutical services, considering regional specificities.

Indicators related to the rational use of medicines and its associated factors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate indicators related to the rational use of medicines and its associated factors in Basic Health Units. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a representative sample of Brazilian cities included in the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos - Serviços, 2015 (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services, 2015). The data were collected by interviews with users, medicine dispensing professionals, and prescribers; and described by prescription, dispensing, and health services indicators. We analyzed the association between human resources characteristics of pharmaceutical services and dispensing indicators. RESULTS: At national level, the average number of medicines prescribed was 2.4. Among the users, 5.8% had antibiotic prescription, 74.8% received guidance on how to use the medicines at the pharmacy and, for 45.1% of users, all prescribed medicines were from the national list of essential medicines. All the indicators presented statistically significant differences between the regions of Brazil. The dispensing professionals that reported the presence of a pharmacist in the unit with a working load of 40 hours or more per week presented 1.82 more chance of transmitting information on the way of using the medicines in the dispensing process. CONCLUSION: The analysis of prescription, dispensing, and health services indicators in the basic health units showed an unsatisfactory proportion of essential medicines prescription and limitations in the correct identification of the medicine, orientation to the patients on medicines, and availability of therapeutic protocols in the health services.

Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services in Brazilian primary health care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services in Brazilian primary health care. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, exploratory, and evaluative study on a representative sample from the five Brazilian geopolitical regions resulting from the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos - Serviços, 2015 (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services, 2015). The outcome was the patient's satisfaction, obtained using the item response theory. Associations were tested using Pearson's Chi-square test with sociodemographic and health variables, and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to verify the adequacy of the final model. Logistic regression results were presented as odds ratio. RESULTS: The overall percentage of patients satisfied with these services was 58.4% (95%CI 54.4-62.3). The "opportunity/convenience" aspect had the lowest satisfaction percentage (49.5%; 95%CI 46.4-52.6) and "interpersonal aspects," the highest percentage (90.5%; 95%CI 88.9-91.8), significantly higher than other aspects. Sex, age group, limitations due to disease, and self-perception of health remained associated in the final multiple logistic model regarding general satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the interviewed users were satisfied with pharmaceutical services in Brazilian cities, and the satisfaction with the customer's service was determinant in the patient's overall satisfaction.

National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines: methods.

The Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos -Serviços (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services) aimed to characterize the organization of pharmaceutical services in the Primary Health Care of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). PNAUM - Services is a cross-sectional and evaluative study, with planned sample of 600 cities, held between 2014 and 2015, composed of a remote phase, with telephone interviews with health managers. Of these 600 cities, 300 were selected for a survey on health services. We selected the 27 capitals, the 0.5% largest cities of each region, and the remaining cities were drawn. The estimate of the representative national sample size considered three levels: cities, medicine dispensing services, and patients. The interviews were carried out with a structured questionnaire specific for: municipal secretaries of health, professionals responsible for pharmaceutical services in the city, professionals responsible for the dispensing of medicines, physicians, and patients. The secondary data were obtained in official databases, in the latest update date. PNAUM - Services was the first nationwide research aimed at the assessment and acquisition of national and regional indicators on access to medicines, as well as use and rational use, from the perspective of various social subjects.

Financing of Pharmaceutical Services in the municipal management of the Brazilian Unified Health System.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss factors related to the financing of the Basic Component of Pharmaceutical Services within the municipal management of the Brazilian Unified Health System. METHODS: The Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos no Brasil - Serviços (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services) is a cross-sectional, exploratory, and evaluative study that performed an information survey in a representative sample, stratified by Brazilian regions It considered different study populations in the sampling plan, which represent primary health care services in the cities. Data were collected in 2015 by two methods: in person, by applying direct observation scripts and interviews with users, physicians, and professionals responsible for the dispensing of medicines in primary care services; by telephone interviews with municipal health managers and municipal professionals responsible for Pharmaceutical Services. The results were extracted from the questionnaires applied by telephone. RESULTS: Of the sample of 600 eligible cities, we collected 369 interviews (61.5%) with secretaries and 507 (84.5%) with pharmaceutical services managers. 70.8% of the cities have a computerized management system; and 11.9% have qualification/training of professionals. More than half (51.3%) of the cities received funds for the structuring of pharmaceutical services, and almost 60% of these cities performed this type of spending. In 35.4% of cases, municipal secretaries of health said that they use resources of medicines from the Componente Básico da Assistência Farmacêutica (CBAF - Basic Component of Pharmaceutical Services) to cover demands of other medicines, but only 9.7% believed that these funds were sufficient to cover the demands. The existence of a permanent bidding committee exclusively for acquiring medicines was reported in 40.0% of the cities. CONCLUSIONS: We found serious deficiencies in the public financing of medicines, as well as little concern about the formality in the use of public resources, expenses that meet individual demands to the detriment of the community, insufficient resources allocated to the Basic Component of Pharmaceutical Services, and exhaustion of the financing model.

Availability of essential medicines in primary health care of the Brazilian Unified Health System.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the availability of tracer medicines in pharmaceutical services in primary health care of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional and evaluative study, part of the Pesquisa Nacional Sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos - Serviços, 2015 (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - Services, 2015). To analyze the availability of medicines, we verified 50 items selected from the Relação Nacional de Medicamentos Essenciais (Rename - National List of Essential Medicines) of 2012. Observation scripts were applied to medicine dispensing services in the primary health care. Interviews were carried out with patients, health care professionals, and public managers, using semi-structured questionnaires. The availability index was presented as the percentage of health units where the medicines were available. For statistical analysis, absolute, relative, and mean frequencies were presented (with 95% confidence intervals). The comparison of groups was carried out by Pearson Chi-square tests or variance analysis, when needed. RESULTS: One thousand, one hundred, and seventy-five observation scripts were filled in a national representative sample composed by 273 cities. Statistically significant differences were observed regarding the type of unit, infrastructure, and presence of a pharmacist between regions of Brazil. The average availability of tracer medicines in primary health care was 52.9%, with differences between regions and sampling strata. This index increased to 62.5% when phytotherapic medicines were excluded. We found limited availability of medicines for treatment of chronic and epidemiological diseases, such as tuberculosis and congenital syphilis. CONCLUSIONS: The low availability of essential medicines purchased centrally by the Brazilian Ministry of Health indicates deficiencies in supply chain management. The different views on the availability of tracer medicines in SUS confirm the general availability verified in this study. Among patients, about 60% said they obtain medicines in SUS units, data consistent with the lack of medicines reported by medicine dispensers and in line with physicians' evaluations.

Management of pharmaceutical services in the Brazilian primary health care.

OBJECTIVE: To identify limiting factors in the management of pharmaceutical services in the primary health care provided by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). METHODS: This study was based on the data from the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos no Brasil (PNAUM - National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines), and it was conducted by interviews with professionals responsible for pharmaceutical services in Brazilian cities, in 2015. To identify the management limiting factors, we considered the organizational, operational, and sustainability indicators of the management. For the analyses, we included the weights and structure of analysis plan for complex samples. The results were expressed by frequencies and measures of central tendency with 95% confidence interval, considering the Brazilian geographic regions. RESULTS: We identified the following limiting factors: lack of pharmaceutical services in the Municipal Health Secretariat organization chart (24%) and in the health plan (18%); lack of participation of managers in the Health Board and the absence of reference to this topic in the agenda of meetings (58.4%); lack of financial autonomy (61.5%) and lack of knowledge on the available values (81.7%); lack of adoption of operational procedures (about 50%) for selection, scheduling, and acquisition; and the fact that most professionals evaluate the organization of pharmaceutical services as good and great (58.8%), despite the worrisome indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmaceutical services management is currently supported by a legal and political framework that should guide and contribute to improve the pharmaceutical services in the Brazilian Unified Health System primary health care. However, there is a mismatch between the goals established by these guidelines and what is actually happening.