Condições de armazenamento de medicamentos nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde do Distrito Sanitário Nordeste de Belo Horizonte, Brasil

Abstract

The storage of medicines is intended to provide medicines by quality standards and in proper amount and time for the population. The aim of this work was to evaluate the storage conditions of medicines in the warehouse and the Basic Health Units (BHU) of Northeast Health District of Belo Horizonte. The study was descriptive and quantitative, conducted in the warehouse and 20 BHU. Data were collected through direct observation using indicators proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The proportion of attainment to requirements of appropriate storage conditions was in average 76,7% per BHU pharmacy and 83.3% for the warehouse. Expired drugs were not found. The items with the lowest evaluation were related to the physical structure of the units, and the best-evaluated one referred to the working process. Measures are recommended to ensure that the quality of the medicines is preserved and that their rational use contributes to the population health, such as an increase in investments for the structuring of the physical area for the storage of pharmaceutical products.