Access to medicines for the treatment of systemic arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Brazilian population: data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey

Abstract

This study aimed to measure access to medicines for the treatment of systemic arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Brazil according to the mode of acquisition, as well as to analyze the factors associated with this access, based on data from the 2019 Brazilian National Survey of Health (PNS, acronym in Portuguese). Socioeconomic data and data related to the use of medicines by people aged 15 and over were analyzed in relation to access via the Brazilian Popular Pharmacy Program (PFPB, acronym in Portuguese) and via public services. The majority of Brazilians who took part in the PNS reported using medication to control hypertension in the previous 15 days (91.5%) and using oral medication for diabetes (95.2%) and/or insulin (70%). Most participants obtained oral medication for hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus via PFPB (45.2% and 53.6%, respectively), and the factors that most negatively influenced this access were older age, lower income, lower schooling, very poor self-rated health and not having private health insurance. Access to insulin, on the other hand, was most often via the public health service (69.7%), and the factors that most negatively influenced this access were black/mixed-race skin color, lower income, very poor self-rated health and not having private health insurance. Generally, the importance of the PFPB as a policy to increase access to essential medicines in Brazil was highlighted, considering the free supply of antihypertensive and antidiabetic drugs.