Characterization of dispensing processes in primary care pharmacies in Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to characterize processes carried out in municipal pharmacies in Rio Grande do Sul; mainly addressing dispensation, in addition to pharmacovigilance and drug disposal actions. Methods: The study included the 18 municipalities that host the Regional Health Coordinators of the Health Secretariat of the State of RS and other municipalities with more than 100 thousand inhabitants, resulting in a total of 29 municipalities. Data collection took place through on-the-spot interviews with those responsible for municipal pharmacies, and the data collection instrument was prepared from a review of the scientific literature. Results: Among the main results, 39,6% of those responsible for dispensing services were pharmacists; all pharmacies have a computerized system to control and record the dispensation; actions related to pharmacovigilance are still incipient; fractionation of medicines is a practice used in pharmacies (64,6%), but a minority seems to follow the Good Practices of fractionation of medicines (12,9%); expired, broken, leaked, and unused medications from users are received by pharmacies (89,6%); in all pharmacies, pharmaceutical services are offered, in which dispensation (100%) and pharmaceutical guidance (91,7%) are the most common. Conclusion: There is a need to qualify dispensing services so that pharmaceutical assistance goes hand in hand with SUS principles and guidelines, with the rational use of medicines as a purpose that decisively influences the quality of life and health of users.