Characterization of pharmaceutical services in the prison system: cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Primary healthcare within correctional facilities is crucial.
• Effective pharmaceutical services (PS) are essential for patient care.
• Previous research on PS in Brazilian prisons is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the organization and infrastructure of pharmaceutical services (PS) in the prison system of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
• To identify key challenges and areas for improvement in prison-based PS.
• To assess the alignment of current PS practices with primary healthcare standards and regulations.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• Data were collected remotely via a questionnaire adapted from the Brazilian National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medications (PNAUM).
• The survey included 51 prison units in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Main Results:

• Most prison units lack dedicated pharmacy areas and standard operating procedures for PS.
• Pharmacist presence was reported in only 9.8% of facilities.
• Medication storage conditions are unmonitored in 31.4% of sites, and medication fractionation is common (78.4%).
• Medication dispensing occurs in a small fraction (3.9%) of facilities.

Conclusions:

• Pharmaceutical services in the Rio Grande do Sul prison system exhibit significant organizational and infrastructural weaknesses.
• There is a critical need to enhance PS to meet regulatory requirements and improve primary healthcare delivery within prisons.
• Interventions focusing on infrastructure, standardized procedures, and pharmacist integration are necessary.