A construção da Política Estadual de Assistência Farmacêutica no Rio Grande do Sul: uma análise a partir da sistematização de experiências

Abstract

The National Pharmaceutical Assistance Policy guides public policies and constitutes a strategic reference for the organization of Pharmaceutical Assistance within the Brazilian Unified Health System. In Rio Grande do Sul, this framework supported the development of the State Pharmaceutical Assistance Policy, established in 2022 through a collective construction process. This research analyzed the development of the policy considering its historical, political, and institutional context and the conditions and strategies that enabled its consolidation. This qualitative and participatory study was based on the Systematization of Experiences proposed by Oscar Jara Holliday in 2006. It combined document analysis and narrative interviews with managers, workers, and users. The findings revealed a policy developed democratically during the pandemic, supported by listening, shared responsibility, and a territorial approach to care. The narratives expressed a commitment to equity, comprehensiveness, and social participation and recognized the state policy as a milestone for Pharmaceutical Assistance in Rio Grande do Sul. However, limited interprofessional participation and the small number of participants in the public consultation restricted the diversity of perspectives and the breadth of dialogue. The process also revealed historical tensions within the Brazilian Unified Health System and reinforced the importance of cooperative governance. The experience repositions Pharmaceutical Assistance as a transversal component of health care, articulated with the Rational Use of Medicines and Health Care Networks. By recovering trajectories, decisions, and lessons learned, the research contributes to institutional memory and strengthens debates on regionalization, pharmaceutical care, and participatory methodologies. It also demonstrates the potential of the Systematization of Experiences as an analytical and formative tool. The research suggests the development of support materials, monitoring instruments, methodological guides, and participatory workshops to support the implementation of the state policy guidelines. These initiatives reaffirm that public policies are dynamic processes that are continuously updated through knowledge production, participation, and cooperative governance.