Farmacêutico na farmácia básica: garantia de qualidade na assistência farmacêutica? / Pharmacist in Primary Health Care: quality assurance in Pharmaceutical Services?
Pharmaceutical Assistance is focused on health promotion, healthprotection and recovery through technical-managerial, and clinical-care activities. The role of pharmacists in basic health units seems to favor this process, although some municipalities choose not to include them in the human resources framework of pharmacies in primary health care. When conducting a survey to assess the access and use of medicines in municipalities of Minas Gerais, our research group verified that the presence of pharmacists in basic pharmacies has influenced the quality of products and services offered in these establishments. A standardized instrument was used for data collection and indicators were selected to assess quality in the technical-managerial and clinical-care areas. As a result, it was observed that the presence of the pharmacist in these establishments did not influence the quality of Pharmaceutical Services. Gaps in the training of these professionals may be compromising the pharmacist's performance in line with the needs of the Unified Health System.