Brasília, January 2, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - A study conducted by the Ministry of Health discovered that 53% of the Brazilian population does not have access to the remedies people need, because they are unable to buy them. For this reason, the Popular Pharmacy program, a partnership with states and municipalities, is scheduled to be launched this year to offer medications at lower prices, explains the general coordinator of Program Planning, Organization, and Management, Luiz Roberto Klassmann.
According to Klassmann, current programs to distribute remedies occur through three channels: financing to states and municipalities, co-financing, and direct transfer of medications. Between the beginning of this year and the end of December, the coordinator added, approximately R$ 3 billion should be invested, including expenditures on hospitalizations and programs that treat patients with cancer and Aids.
The financing of medications covers the Mental Health Program, conducted in partnership with the states, and the Program of Incentives for Basic Pharmaceutical Assistance, developed in conjunction with the municipalities. In the Mental Health Program, the federal government contributes 80% of the funds. The rest comes from state government coffers. Last year the Ministry of Health spent over R$ 22 million on the purchase of medications.
In the Program of Incentives for Basic Pharmaceutical Assistance, the federal government contributes R$ 1 annually for every Brazilian, while the states and municipalities contribute at least R$ 0,50 each. In 2004, the federal government portion will increase to R$ 1.50.
Through the co-financing scheme, the federal government transfers resources to the states, which also participate with counterpart funds that vary according to the products that are acquired. Federal government funds for co-financing amount to around R$ 529 million. When added to the sums provided by the states, the total reaches almost R$ 1 billion.
Co-financing makes it easier to purchase exceptional medications. These products are very expensive and are used in the treatment of complex congenital or acquired diseases. The list includes, for example, medicines for transplant patients and victims of chronic kidney insufficiency, various types of hepatitis, and multiple sclerosis.
In the area of direct transfer of medications, two programs are benefitted: the Family Health Program (PSF) and the Strategic Medications Program. Among the latter are remedies for tuberculosis and leprosy, insulin for diabetics, and drugs used to treat carriers of the Aids virus. The Ministry of Health distributes these medications to the states and muncipalities. In 2004, the federal government will spend R$ 516 million just on the purchase of drugs used to treat HIV victims. (DAS)
