National drug policy in Brazil: an overview

Abstract

The development and adoption of a national drug policy is an essential component of health policy, a critical element for effective implementation of actions that promote population health care improvement. This paper aims to contextualize the National Drug Policy adopted in Brazil, trying to collaborate in future discussions of guidelines for access to medicines. The guidelines that guide this policy are geared towards use of essential drugs, drug regulation, reorganization of pharmaceutical services, promotion of rational drugs use, scientific and technological development, promoting the production of medicines, ensure the safety, efficacy and quality of drugs and development and training of human resources.