[Description of the pharmaceutical services offered by the universal health care system at the primary care level in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil]. / Caracterización de los servicios farmacéuticos de atención primaria del Sistema Unico de Salud en Londrina, Paraná, Brasil.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the pharmaceutical services offered at the primary care level by Brazil's Sistema Unico de Salud (Universal Health Care System). METHODS: The study took place in Londrina, Paraná, in January-March 2003. The World Health Organization's recommended drug use indicators were employed. Included in the study were 13 primary health care facilities in which 390 patients were interviewed. RESULTS: None of the facilities had a pharmacist. The average office visit lasted 8.6 minutes; the mean number of drugs prescribed was 2.2; and injections were given in 10.9%. Generic drugs were prescribed 66.5% of the time and 73% of the prescribed drugs were included in the Lista Municipal de Medicamentos Esenciales (Municipal List of Essential Drugs). Only 46.6% of the patients interviewed reported having the basic instructions required for appropriate use of the drug prescribed. CONCLUSIONS: These results can aid in restructuring the municipality's pharmaceutical services because they underscore the need to improve and to increase rational drug use as a therapeutic resource imperative to supporting health efforts.

Caracterización de los servicios farmacéuticos de atención primaria del Sistema Único de Salud en Londrina, Paraná, Brasil / Description of the pharmaceutical services offered by the universal health care system at the primary care level in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar a los servicios farmacéuticos de atención primaria del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS) de Brasil. MÉTODOS: El estudio se llevó a cabo en Londrina, Paraná, Brasil, de enero a marzo de 2003. Se utilizaron los indicadores de uso de los medicamentos propuestos por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se incluyeron 13 unidades de atención primaria de salud, donde se entrevistaron 390 pacientes. RESULTADOS: Ninguna de las unidades contaba con un farmacéutico. El promedio de duración de la consulta médica fue de 8,6 minutos; el de medicamentos por prescripción, 2,2; y el de uso de inyectables, 10,9 por ciento. La denominación genérica se utilizó en 66,5 por ciento de las prescripciones y 73,3 por ciento de los medicamentos constaban en la Lista Municipal de Medicamentos Esenciales (Remume). Solamente 46,6 por ciento de los pacientes entrevistados refirieron tener la información mínima para usar correctamente los medicamentos prescritos. CONCLUSIÓN: Estos resultados pueden contribuir para la reorganización de los servicios farmacéuticos en el municipio, ya que señalan la necesidad del fortalecimiento y del uso racional de medicamentos como recursos terapéuticos necesarios para apoyar a las acciones de salud.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the pharmaceutical services offered at the primary care level by Brazil's Sistema Único de Salud (Universal Health Care System). METHODS: The study took place in Londrina, Paraná, in January-March 2003. The World Health Organization's recommended drug use indicators were employed. Included in the study were 13 primary health care facilities in which 390 patients were interviewed. RESULTS: None of the facilities had a pharmacist. The average office visit lasted 8.6 minutes; the mean number of drugs prescribed was 2.2; and injections were given in 10.9 percent. Generic drugs were prescribed 66.5 percent of the time and 73 percent of the prescribed drugs were included in the Lista Municipal de Medicamentos Esenciales (Municipal List of Essential Drugs). Only 46.6 percent of the patients interviewed reported having the basic instructions required for appropriate use of the drug prescribed. CONCLUSIONS: These results can aid in restructuring the municipality's pharmaceutical services because they underscore the need to improve and to increase rational drug use as a therapeutic resource imperative to supporting health efforts.

Promoção da atenção farmacêutica no Brasil / Promoting pharmaceutical care in Brazil

Este trabalho representa o registro do caminho trilhado até o momento, com o objetivo de promover a atenção farmacêutica no Brasil; propor a harmonização de conceitos inerentes à prática farmacêutica relacionadaos à promoção da atenção farmacêutica; elaborar e implementar recomendações e estratégias de ação e incentivar a criação de mecanismos de cooperação e fórum permanentes.

Estratégias para a implementação das diretrizes curriculares nacionais nos cursos de farmácia / Strategies for implementing national curriculum directives for pharmacological education

Historicamente a formação de recursos humanos em saúde ocorre obedecendo a normas de mercado, especialmente à organização das práticas médicos-sanitárias, sendo que a tendência econômica (expansão ou recessão) reflete diretamente na criação ou corte de empregos, bem como na organização dos serviços e na política de saúde. Esta praticada num determinado momento histórico pode definir ou influenciar o modelo pedagógico que será predominante nas instituições de ensino, assim como o perfil da formação dos recursos humanos em saúde.