Access to high quality and low cost medicines is not a problem anymore in four departments of the country. This is due to the Social Pharmacy system, working through a network of departmental warehouses. Regional Health Council at Itapua, Misiones, Presidente Hayes and Central departments are responsible for the administration of more than 200 community pharmacies delivering approximately 35.000 units of pharmaceutical every month to poor people.
|
|
The social pharmacy experience started in Itapua, in 1996 and was later extended to the other departments. Itapua’s departmental warehouse was inaugurated with 7 social pharmacies in July 1996 and an initial capital of approximately U$ 8000. Today, 117 communities in 30 districts of the department have a social pharmacy with a capital of U$ 250.000.
The social pharmacy model has proven to be a financially sustainable system that rationalizes use of scarce resources, creates the discipline of user fees, is means tested so only the low-income target population benefits, and its management system provides a foundation for further decentralization of health services.
|
