Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to analyze the effects of the regulatory change related to the dispensing of medicines in private pharmacies linked to the “Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular” Program (ATFP), during the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed at low-income individuals registered in the Single Registry for Social Programs in Brazil (CADÚNICO). METHODS: This study, of an ecological nature, was based on secondary data covering the period from 2018 to 2020, relating to the dispensing of medications for hypertension (AH) and diabetes mellitus (DM) in municipalities belonging to the Integrated Development Region of the Federal District and Surroundings (RIDE-DF). The data were provided by the Department of Monitoring, Evaluation and Dissemination of Strategic Health Information of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Linking the registration numbers of individuals between the ATFP and CADÚNICO databases allowed an interrupted temporal analysis to be carried out, evaluating changes in the levels and trends of weekly dispensing before and after the regulatory change that occurred on March 19, 2020. RESULTS: Of the population assisted by ATFP during the study period, 15.89% (n=92,643) was registered with CADÚNICO at the time of dispensation for the treatment of AH and DM. The greatest demand was observed for the treatment of AH (79,169 users; 65.28%), followed by DM (40,095 users; 34.71%). The majority of users were female (average of 73.34%), predominantly for both pathologies, aged over 59 years (median). The analysis of the Time Series Index (STI) applied after the regulatory change showed a significant increase in the dispensing of medicines for AH (+1,907,391 pharmacotechnical units) and DM (+966,265 pharmacotechnical units) between the 115th and 120th epidemiological week, followed by a reduction to levels lower than those prior to the intervention. In the results of the post-intervention period, in the subsequent 41 weeks, the model showed a decrease of 1,149,707 pharmacotechnical units (realized = 12,020,409; counterfactual = 13,170,116) for DM and an increase of 529,252 pharmacotechnical units (realized = 25,058 .344; counterfactual = 24,529,092) for HA. Conclusion: The intervention carried out by ATFP during the pandemic period in Brazil had a positive impact, in the short term, on the quantity of medicines dispensed for the treatment of AH and DM in the RIDE-DF population registered with CADÚNICO, remaining as a effective Pharmaceutical Assistance (AF) program.
