Banca de DEFESA: MAILRE PRAXEDES GOMES SERAFIM

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MAILRE PRAXEDES GOMES SERAFIM
DATE: 30/03/2026
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: NESC/UFRN
TITLE:

Situational Diagnosis of Pharmaceutical Assistance in the Context of Primary Health Care in Rio Grande do Norte.

KEY WORDS:

Pharmaceutical Assistance; Public Policies; Primary Health Care.

PAGES: 71
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Saúde Coletiva
SUMMARY:

Pharmaceutical Assistance (PA) constitute a strategic component for ensuring access to and the rational use of medicines within the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil, and are recognized as one of the essential actions for the comprehensiveness of health care. The National Pharmaceutical Services Policy (PNAF) proposes a reorientation of PA practices, expanding their scope beyond logistical activities, with a focus on patient care and integration with other health care actions. However, a gap is still observed between the guidelines established by the PNAF and the organization of PA services at the municipal level, particularly regarding the structuring of services and the inclusion of pharmacists in care processes. In this context, the present study aimed to understand how Pharmaceutical Services are organized in municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, considering the strategic axes proposed by the national policy. Thus, the objective of the study was to analyze the organization and structure of PA at the municipal level, identifying advances, weaknesses, and potentialities for improving actions and services. This is a quantitative study with a descriptive and exploratory approach. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire answered by pharmacists during in-person workshops held in the municipalities of Natal, Caicó, and Mossoró. A total of 45 pharmacists participated in the study, representing 27 municipalities and all health regions of the state. Among the participating municipalities, access to medicines occurs mainly through Primary Health Care Units (77.78%), among other organizational arrangements. Regarding the management of pharmaceutical services, 81.48% of municipalities use the Hórus System for stock management, while 18.52% still do not use a computerized system. Concerning the workforce, 40 pharmacists participated in the study, of whom 75% have temporary employment contracts and 40% have less than one year of experience in the service, indicating high professional turnover. In addition, 80% of professionals reported the absence of continuing education initiatives promoted by the municipality. The data were organized in electronic spreadsheets and analyzed using descriptive statistics, with the development of tables and graphs, as well as interpretative analysis in light of the guidelines of the national policy. The results showed advances in the organization of pharmaceutical services, such as the existence of air-conditioned and computerized environments for medicine storage. However, important weaknesses were also identified, including the limited integration of PA within Primary Health Care actions, the limited institutionalization of the area within municipal management structures, gaps in the formalization of management instruments, and the incipient incorporation of medicinal plants and herbal medicines into the Municipal Essential Medicines Lists (REMUME). Based on the situational diagnosis developed, a state guideline for structuring municipal pharmaceutical services was developed, aiming to guide managers and professionals in improving these services. It is expected that the results of this study will contribute to strengthening the management of pharmaceutical services and expanding safe and qualified access to medicines within the SUS, thereby improving the quality of care provided to the population.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1458261 - DANY GERALDO KRAMER CAVALCANTI E SILVA
Interna - 1101781 - LANNUZYA VERÍSSIMO E OLIVEIRA
Externa à Instituição - NATHALIE DE SENA PEREIRA