Antibiotics are the drugs that are most lacking in pharmacies in SP, says survey

Amoxicillin, azithromycin and cephalexin are among the drugs that are most lacking in pharmacies in the state of São Paulo. This is what a survey carried out by the CRF (Regional Council of Pharmacy) points out with pharmacists who work in the private and public networks.

The survey was carried out between July 19 and 30 through an online questionnaire published on the institution’s website and social networks.

Of the 2,272 responses received, 2,233 were considered valid. The study did not identify whether two professionals from the same pharmacy or drugstore answered the questions.

Currently, the state of São Paulo has around 80,000 active pharmacists, according to the CRF-SP.

Of the 2,233 who responded to the survey, 2,199 said they face shortages where they operate — the equivalent of 98.4%.

Amoxicillin appeared in 1892 responses, followed by azithromycin (1569) and cephalexin (879). The pharmacists participating in the survey pointed out another 21 medicines that were missing.

On the list are ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin + clavulanate, acetylfuroxime, clarithromycin, cefaclor (antimicrobials); dexchlorpheniramine, loratadine, cetirizine, diphenhydramine, desloratadine, fexofenadine, dexchlorpheniramine + betamethasone, hydroxyzine (antihistamines); dipyrone, ibuprofen, paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid (painkillers); acetylcysteine, bromhexine, carbocysteine ​​and ambroxol (mucolytics).

According to pharmacist Adriano Falvo, secretary-general of CRF-SP, the lack of antibiotics, mucolytics, expectorants, antihistamines and analgesics was predictable as they are medicines used in the symptomatic treatment of Covid-19.

“We have the end of the critical period of Covid and the beginning of winter, a period in which these medicines are most used. Most of the inputs used in Brazil for the production of medicines are imported, mainly from China and India. The war in Ukraine also had an impact. The drug’s logistics chain was compromised in Brazil and in other countries”, says Falvo.

For the specialist, it is difficult to predict when the supply will be normalized. “It is necessary to have alternatives to meet the needs of patients”, she says.

The research also looks at private and public establishments separately.

Among the 1,894 responses from pharmacists who work in the private network, 1,869 (98.6%) indicated shortages —1,815 (95.8%) stated that there was a lack of antimicrobial drugs (95.82%), 1,672 (88.2%) indicated a lack of mucolytics, 1,627 (85.9%) of antihistamines, 1,154 (60.9%) of analgesics and 970 (51.2%) of drugs of other classes (51.21%).

In the survey, 175 pharmacists work in public pharmacies. Of these, 170 (97.1%) cited shortages: 160 (91.4%) indicated a lack of antimicrobials (91.43%), 136 (77.7%) of antihistamines, 127 (72.5%) of analgesics (72.57%) and 109 (62.2%) suffer from a lack of medicines from other classes.

From public pharmacies in units managed in partnership with social health organizations, 115 pharmacists responded. Of these, 112 (97.3%) reported shortages. Among them, 100 (86.9%) indicated a lack of antimicrobials, 74 (64.3%) mentioned antihistamines, 72 (62.6%) suffered from a lack of medicines from other classes, 63 (54.7%) %) mentioned analgesics and 55 (47.8%) mentioned mucolytics.

The study also included 49 responses from pharmacists who reported working in philanthropic, charitable, mixed and autarchy establishments. Of these, 47 (95.9%) indicated a lack of medication. For 38 (78.1%) there is a lack of antimicrobials, 35 (56.2%) cite a lack of medicines from other classes, 31 (81.2%) mentioned analgesics, 26 (50%) antihistamines and 20 (40 .6%) the mucolytics.

In May 2022, the CRF-SP had carried out the same survey. Compared to the current one, it is not possible to notice significant changes in the supply of medicines – the medicines mentioned above also appear in the newer results.