Quality management in public pharmacies: requirements x reality

Abstract

More than a half of the public pharmacies in the State of São Paulo have irregularities such as absence of pharmacist or problems in the storage of medicines  (DESIDERIO, 2010). In 57% of public establishments - Basic Health Units, hospitals and government laboratories - the Regional Pharmacy Council noted the absence of pharmacists, medicines sharing shelves with food in refrigerators, and others exposed to moisture and sunlight, among other problems (DESIDÉRIO, 2010). Atempts to improve the quality of actions and health services in Brazil have been developed mainly related to the organization of the Unified Health System, the area of clinical and pathological analyzes and in the private hospitals. Concerning the pharmacies, there are a few initiatives to evaluate and increase the quality of the pharmaceutical department (FRANCA FILHO et al., 2008). This study aims to describe the current situation of the pharmacies in the public health service, and the use of quality management tools in these establishments in a city located in the country of São Paulo. This paper was carried out through data collection, observation, and subsequent comparison with literature review. None of the units evaluated had activities performed in a systematic and organized way, as it is recommended, nor in accordance with existing laws. Quality management, or even the use of quality tools, was not found in any establishment. Difficulties such as lack of standardization and criteria in dealing with patients, among other activities were observed, suggesting the need for structural change and rearrangement of services, aiming at the continuous pursuit of quality through the management system.