Evaluation of the dispensing process for chronic hepatitis C drugs in SUS-SP

• Grant number: 09/53131-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies for the National Health Care System (PP-SUS)
• Start date: July 01, 2010
• End date: June 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Agreement: CNPq - PPSUS
• Principal Investigator: Venancio Avancini Ferreira Alves
• Grantee: Venancio Avancini Ferreira Alves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hepatitis C is a major public health problem due to high rates of chronic disease, their potential evolution to cirrhosis and hapatocarcinoma, combined with the fact of being the most frequent etiology diagnosed in cases of liver transplantation. The Ministry of Health, concerned about this issue, regulated the criteria for the indication of medical treatment of hepatitis C, which were sanctioned by document of Health Secretary of Sao Paulo State. Considering the severity of side effects caused by drugs used to treat hepatitis C, diagnosis and classification of appropriate framework are crucial for decision making regarding the prescription and dispensing of them. In this context, a project of the Center for Reference and Recycling in Liver Diseases, developed by LIM 14, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo in the period 2004 to 2006, examined 131 reports of anatomical and pathological liver biopsies performed for diagnosis of hepatitis C, indicating chronic treatment from DIR XXI - São José dos Campos. It was found that evaluation of inadequate sample sizes of biopsies in 15.5% of reports. This finding is worrying because the inadequacy of the reports of the biopsies may influence details of the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, so that patients without an indication of use of drugs are being treated, and this can lead to serious side effects, and unnecessary expenses to the health system. (AU)