Introduction:The participation of armed forces in humanitarian operations and in disaster response is common in many countries. In Brazil, the armed forces have had history in providing health support to victims in emergencies, which also includes the provision of pharmaceutical services (PS).Problem:Even though being essential for the provision of health care in disaster response, the preparedness of PS is not well-addressed in the literature. The use of a comprehensive approach to evaluate preparedness of PS in military institutions may subsidize preparedness measures. The goals of this work were to analyze the preparedness of PS for disaster response and humanitarian aid in military units of a Brazilian armed force institution, and to propose a framework to improve the preparedness of PS in operational medicine.Methods:An investigation of a cross-sectional design was performed. A logic model and indicators to evaluate preparedness of PS were applied. Data were obtained from official documents, interviews with key stakeholders, and observation of good storage practices (GSP).Results:Identified were: lack of specific budget for medicine procurement in case of disaster, absence of emergency stockpile, proper means for medicine transportation, and records of trained health professionals. An emergency plan, a list of selected medicines, adaptable mobile health care units, and a system for mobilization of health professionals were some of the positive aspects recognized. Different aspects for improvement were acknowledged and recommendations to favor the efficiency and the quality of PS in emergencies were proposed.Conclusions:The investigation provided valuable results for the planning and execution of responses to disasters and humanitarian aid. The findings and proposed recommendations may be useful for other military organizations similar to those in Brazil.
Introduction:Military participation in humanitarian operations, both in cases of armed conflict and in response to natural disasters, is a common phenomenon in several countries. In Brazil, the Armed Forces have a history in providing humanitarian assistance to victims of emergencies through their field hospitals, such as medical and dental care, laboratory and imaging diagnosis, and pharmaceutical services.Aim:To verify pharmaceutical services preparedness of military units in an institution of Brazilian Armed Forces to disaster response and humanitarian aid.Methods:A transversal study was carried out. The methodological approach was based on a logical model and indicators related to the preparedness of pharmaceutical services. Field research was carried out and good storage practices were investigated in loco. Key stakeholders were interviewed based on an open-ended questionnaire on the preparedness of pharmaceutical services. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for overall content, according to analytical categories stemming from the literature and indicators prior defined.Results:Key stakeholders of three military units were interviewed, and official documents and guidelines were also analyzed. Some pronounced shortcomings were identified, such as the lack of a specific budget for medicines management, no surplus of health supplies, lack of appropriate transports, and need of capacity building of health professionals and support team. The existence of a disaster plan, selection of essential medicines for primary reaction, forecasting of medicines, field hospitals as mobile and adaptable health structures, and a system for military mobilization are some of the strengths identified. Two military units are better structured in the management of pharmaceutical service. The third unit still needs to mature its processes to fit the health purposes of its mission.Discussion:These findings can subsidize the improvement of pharmaceutical services’ efficiency and quality in means of providing better response in emergency situations supported by the Brazilian Armed Forces.
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