Regional strategies to promote the Rational Use of Medicines

Abstract

Access to medicines is a fundamental human right. However, it is not enough to guarantee therapeutic success and avoid problems related to its use. Therefore, using it rationally brings benefits to the person and the health system. It is considered that there is rational use of medicines when patients receive medicines appropriate to their clinical conditions, in doses that are adequate to their specific needs, for an adequate period and at the lowest cost for themselves and for the community. Promoting Health Education actions for the rational use of medicines are strategies to raise awareness among professionals and the population. The Pharmaceutical Services Conductor Group of the 27th Health Region plans and coordinates regional and municipal actions in Primary Health Care with themes focused on the rational use of medicines. This paper has the objective to report the history of actions carried out from 2017 to 2021 in municipalities with health teams and population on the use of medicines. The actions were implemented every year by most municipalities in the region and incorporated into the routine of some areas. In all campaigns, weaknesses related to the use of medication were identified, which shows that these are actions that need to be strengthened. The regional space and technical support for discussion of Pharmaceutical Services policy brought pharmacists in the municipalities closer together and provided opportunities to develop regional actions respecting local characteristics.