By the end of this year, the Ministry of Health is expected to inaugurate another 263 community pharmacies. In slightly over a year since beginning operations, the 53 community pharmacies installed in various parts of the country have already sold 8 million items.
Among the products sold in these government pharmacies there were vials of medicine, strips of pills, tubes of cream, injectable medicines, and condoms. In the community pharmacies, the population is able to buy 95 types of remedies for up to 90% less than they would pay in commercial drugstores.
For the director of the Community Pharmacy Program, Adilson Stólet, access to less expensive medications allows patients not to interrupt treatment.
“A study was done showing that 50% of low income families interrupt treatment, because they don’t have money to pay for the medications. The Brazilian Community Pharmacy Program came on the scene to diminish this problem,” the director informed.
According to Stólet, the program is serving not only the low-income population, but also people who are looking for less expensive medications.
“People from all social levels are going to the community pharmacies to buy medications for prices that are more accessible. The community pharmacies are well located, generally in city centers, and this also facilitates access for a larger public,” he added.
ABr