Analysis of the performance of the National Health Council in the National Policy on Pharmaceutical Assistance

Abstract

The aims is to analyze the performance of the National Health Council (NHC) in the National Policy on Pharmaceutical Assistance, from 2004 to 2024. This is a qualitative, documentary study. Data collection was carried out on the website of the NHC. The data were analyzed through content analysis. A total of 29 documents (resolutions, recommendations and motions) that expressed political facts and were related to the strategic axes of this policy were selected for analysis. In the political facts analyzed, there was a predominance of actions related to access to medicines and pharmaceutical services and to the sanitary regulation of medicines and health establishments. The performance of the NHC produced important political facts, especially in relation to judicialization for access to medicines, drug patents, the Popular Pharmacy Program of Brazil, and drug shortages. The performance in the debate on pharmacy as a health establishment, marketing of over-the-counter medicines, in the debate on anorectics and drug advertising was relevant. In pandemic context, the defense of the rational use of medicines was emphasized. These results show that the NHC played an important role in the implementation of pharmaceutical policies, in particular the National Policy on Pharmaceutical Assistance.