Sources for obtaining drugs for treating high blood pressure and diabetes in Brazil
Guaranteed access to drugs represents one of the State’s main responsibilities and is increasingly incorporated into public health policies throughout various countries and international organizations.
METHODS:
Socio-demographic and regional differences were analyzed regarding the use of high blood pressure and diabetic drugs, according to drug obtainment sources: Health Units in the public health system (HU), drug stores and/or pharmacies (D&P) accredited by the Brazilian Popular Pharmacy Program (BPPP) and D&P not accredited by the BPPP, through a population-based cross sectional study in individuals in Brazilian capitals, 20 years of age or older and interviewed through a VIGITEL telephone survey in 2011.
RESULTS:
71.8% of the 15,027 hypertensive patients and 78.2% of the 4,083 diabetics were undergoing treatment with drugs; 45.8% of hypertensive individuals obtained the drug at HU; 15.9% through the BPPP and 38.3% at D&P. Among diabetics, these percentages were 54.4%; 16.2% and 29.4%, respectively. The percentages for obtaining drugs from HU were higher for individuals who had a lower level of education, who reported their skin color as black or mulatto, and who had no private health insurance. On the other hand, the residents of less economically developed regions of the country had to assume the costs of drugs much more than those residents in more developed regions of the country. An inverse profile was observed in patients who acquired drugs at D&P and at BPPP.
CONCLUSIONS:
Having access to different sources of diabetic and high blood pressure drugs was not homogenous among all Brazilian regions and capitals or among the population’s social segments. Monitoring of tendencies may favor a redirection of this public policy, with the goal of promoting more equitable actions throughout the county.