Challenges for pharmaceutical care in primary health care

Abstract

This case study aimed to describe the profile of pharmacists, characterize the pharmaceutical services, and unveil the determinants for the provision of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up based on the model of practice of Pharmaceutical Care in Primary Health Care. Fifty pharmacists answered a questionnaire about their profile and activities. The Bardin content analysis was applied to analyze the data on the activities, resulting in two categories: characterization of the activities performed by pharmacists and the determinants for the provision of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up. It was observed that pharmaceutical care is still a challenge to be faced, mainly due to the demand for managerial activities and the deficiency in training for care, needing to reorganize work processes and institutional guidelines to expand access to patient-centered pharmaceutical services. However, the growing number of pharmacists working in care, reorganizing and redefining their role, seeking to transform the reality of the Municipal Pharmacy Assistance, stands out. Despite the still existing challenges related to training, structure and processes, the search for solutions for the organization of the service, with the improvement of the clinical activities, strengthening the Pharmaceutical Assistance in the Unified Health System, stands out.