Model for the evaluation of drug-dispensing services in primary health care

OBJECTIVE

To develop a model for evaluating the efficacy of drug-dispensing service inprimary health care.

METHODS

An efficacy criterion was adopted to determine the level of achievement of theservice objectives. The evaluation model was developed on the basis of aliterature search and discussions with experts. The applicability test of themodel was conducted in 15 primary health care units in the city of Florianópolis,state of Santa Catarina, in 2010, and data were recorded in structured andpretested questionnaires.

RESULTS

The model developed was evaluated using five dimensions of analysis for analysis.The model was suitable for evaluating service efficacy and helped to identify thecritical points of each service dimension.

CONCLUSIONS

Adaptations to the data collection technique may be required to adjust for thereality and needs of each situation. The evaluation of the drug-dispensing serviceshould promote adequate access to medications supplied through the public healthsystem.