[Pharmaceutical care in primary health care: the experience of 3 Brazilian States]. / Assistência farmacêutica na atenção básica de saúde: a experiência de três estados brasileiros.

In the context of recent changes in the Brazilian drug supply system at the national level, mainly the deactivation of CEME (a government agency under the Ministry of Health that dealt with drug supply policy) and the increasing decentralization of activities under the Unified National Health System (SUS), three Brazilian States - Paraná, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais - have established programs for the distribution of essential drugs for primary health care. A nationwide program for the procurement and supply of 32 drugs for primary health care (the so-called "Basic Pharmacy Program") is currently being implemented by the Ministry of Health, to be decentralized subsequently. This article discusses the establishment of State-level drug policies for primary health care through the analysis of the three pioneering programs encompassing drug selection, procurement, storage, distribution, and use.

[Pharmaceutical procurement by the public sector: the quality/cost relationship]. / Aquisição de medicamentos no setor público: o binômio qualidade - custo.

The authors discuss procurement and provision of pharmaceutical products from the perspective of supply management in the public health sector, focusing on two main aspects: quality and cost. The article analyzes issues to be considered by buyers when evaluating drug quality, especially formulation stability, bioequivalence, and the role of generics. Also discussed are factors involving costs and cost management in relation to technological innovations and consumer demands. New alternatives and suggestions are examined and presented for procurement of high-quality, cost-effective drug products.