Farmácia Popular Program: changes in geographic accessibility of medicines during ten years of a medicine subsidy policy in Brazil

• DOI: 10.1186/s40545-015-0030-x
• Publication Date: 2015-03-12T10:13:00Z
• Authors: Isabel Cristina M...; José Miguel do Na...; Marco Aurélio Per...; Vera Lucia Luiza; Dennis Ross-Degnan
• Keywords: Essential medicines

The Brazilian constitution guarantees the right to health, including access medicines. In May 2004, Brazil's government announced "Farmácia Popular" Program (FPP) as a new mechanism improve population's Under FPP, selected list of medicines is subsidized by and provided in public private pharmacies. aim this study describe historical stages FPP identify associated changes geographical accessibility through over time. It was performed documentary review an ecological assessing program coverage terms number facilities Pharmacy Facilities Density (PFD) index at national regional levels from 2004 2013, using database. We used geographic information system mapping depict pharmaceutical density municipality level on thematic maps. A growth PFD coincident with phases noticed. sector, started 2004; 2006, there sharp increase numbers participating pharmacies, stabilizing 2009. 2006; 2009 ratio had increased substantially it continued grow 2011. There most regions between when pharmacy component started, but pharmacies remain unequally distributed across regions. Specifically, wealthy areas South Southeast have higher coverage, lower mostly North Northeast, relatively poorer greater need for medicines, health care, other basic services such potable water sanitization. has been substantial This led potentially improved country. Nevertheless, disparities among