Abstract Pharmaceutical Services (PS) is a growing field which has established itself over the last 25 years in Brazil through scientific publications. This work investigates the evolution of the field in the Brazilian periodical Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. We conducted a scoping review of relevant literature produced in four separate periods (1996-2003, 2004-2010, 2011-2015, and 2016-2019). A search for articles that contained one or more of the pre-established key words in the title was performed by separate pairs of reviewers. The search resulted in 307 articles, 260 of which were included. The findings show that the number of publications increased steadily over the study period. The papers were predominantly open-topic and original articles and written in Portuguese. Most of the lead authors were from the South and Southeastern regions of Brazil and from public universities and Fiocruz. The predominant primary theme was medicine utilization (161 articles), followed by management (56), and tangential aspects of the PM cycle (43). An ontology of PS was created based on the classification of the articles. The findings show that the field of PS encompasses public policy and management and frontline activities involved in the delivery of health care to the population. It is hoped that the diverse range of interrelations in the field of PS will be increasingly addressed in future publications.

Abstract Pharmaceutical Services (PS) is a growing field which has established itself over the last 25 years in Brazil through scientific publications. This work investigates the evolution of the field in the Brazilian periodical Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. We conducted a scoping review of relevant literature produced in four separate periods (1996-2003, 2004-2010, 2011-2015, and 2016-2019). A search for articles that contained one or more of the pre-established key words in the title was performed by separate pairs of reviewers. The search resulted in 307 articles, 260 of which were included. The findings show that the number of publications increased steadily over the study period. The papers were predominantly open-topic and original articles and written in Portuguese. Most of the lead authors were from the South and Southeastern regions of Brazil and from public universities and Fiocruz. The predominant primary theme was medicine utilization (161 articles), followed by management (56), and tangential aspects of the PM cycle (43). An ontology of PS was created based on the classification of the articles. The findings show that the field of PS encompasses public policy and management and frontline activities involved in the delivery of health care to the population. It is hoped that the diverse range of interrelations in the field of PS will be increasingly addressed in future publications.

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s, judicial demands for medicines have intensified. Several studies have outlined these demands. We describe the organization of the management of Municipal Pharmaceutical Services (PS) for the provision of medicines demanded through litigation. The sample included 16 municipalities, four for each state in the Brazilian Southeast. To describe the management profile of PS, a matrix of indicators was developed including dimensions of human and financial resources, and PS activities. In nine municipalities, management of medicines acquired through litigation was the responsibility of the local manager of PS. Indicators on expenditures with litigated medicines were the ones with the worst performance. Only six managers informed using technical analysis of prescriptions and regular contact with the judiciary. In seven municipalities, managers were unable to specify the modality of acquisition of medicines. Municipal management plays a major role in the management of PS and must be reviewed, with the need for a thorough questioning regarding its role and possible changes it needs to implement.

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s, judicial demands for medicines have intensified. Several studies have outlined these demands. We describe the organization of the management of Municipal Pharmaceutical Services (PS) for the provision of medicines demanded through litigation. The sample included 16 municipalities, four for each state in the Brazilian Southeast. To describe the management profile of PS, a matrix of indicators was developed including dimensions of human and financial resources, and PS activities. In nine municipalities, management of medicines acquired through litigation was the responsibility of the local manager of PS. Indicators on expenditures with litigated medicines were the ones with the worst performance. Only six managers informed using technical analysis of prescriptions and regular contact with the judiciary. In seven municipalities, managers were unable to specify the modality of acquisition of medicines. Municipal management plays a major role in the management of PS and must be reviewed, with the need for a thorough questioning regarding its role and possible changes it needs to implement.