OBJECTIVE: To analyze the performance of the Programa Farmácia Popular do Brasil (FPB – Brazilian Popular Pharmacy Program) in the public and private sectors, in terms of availability and cost of medicines for hypertension and diabetes. METHODS: The methodology developed by the World Health Organization, in partnership with the Health Action International, was used to compare medicines prices and availability. This study was performed in May 2007, in different sectors (public, private and the Program’s government-managed [FPB-P] and private-sector-managed [FPB-E] […]

OBJECTIVE: Since one of the goals of dental services is to reduce the effects of social inequality on dental health, it was assessed whether there are inequalities among those seeking dental care from private, public and unionized services. METHODS: The study population consisted of adults aged 18 years or more living in the city of Bambuí, Brazil. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using Pearson’s chi-square test, odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (Woolf’s […]

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and severity of dental caries and to assess treatment needs among schoolchildren aged 6 and 12 in Blumenau, Brazil, and to compare the results found for private and public schools. METHODS: A schoolchildren population of Blumenau, SC, Brazil, was studied. A random sample of 1,473 schoolchildren from Blumenau, Brazil, was obtained. Four strata were studied: 6 and 12 years old schoolchildren attending public and private schools. WHO (1997) criteria for caries diagnosis and treatment needs […]