The aim was to analyse the implementation dynamics of the essential medicines list (EML). We used the government expenditures on medicines and Brazil as a case study. Drug purchases were considered as a proxy for utilization. The essential medicines (EMs) expenditures were followed over time by Brazilian National EMLs life-time and defined by broad therapeutic categories and by specific medicines. Brazil increased the number of the medicines during the last four editions of Brazilian National EMLs and the federal government expenditures on them. The EML implementation dynamics changed the distribution of expenditures on EMs. We identified a common set of 404 EMs present in all four editions of the Brazilian National EMLs. There was a proportional decrease in expenditures on anti-infectives for systemic use, blood and blood-forming organs and alimentary tract and metabolism, and increase in expenditures on antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents. The expenditures distribution per specific medicines revealed that a small set of EMs was responsible for 50% or more of expenditures considering Brazilian National EML life-time for all four periods. The increase in expenditures on EMs in Brazil was a consequence of the newer medicines incorporated over time in the Brazilian National EMLs. The use of the medicines expenditures as a source of data and the definition of an EML life-time permitted follow-up of the implementation dynamics of different versions of the Brazilian National EMLs. Our results have implications for policymakers and stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the role EMLs play in health system sustainability and in the provision of the most beneficial heath care.

A Ciência da Política Científica emerge, recentemente, em resposta à preocupação crescente com a ausência de capacidade analítica das políticas que orientam o desenvolvimento da ciência. Uma das questões centrais é a tentativa de responder se os investimentos públicos no setor de pesquisa alcançaram os resultados esperados. A simplicidade dessa pergunta descortina um cenário complexo de interações, e a crescente produção de dados por parte dos financiadores abrem a oportunidade de análises de bases quantitativas para contribuir nesse esforço de entendimento. O texto lança um olhar exploratório e metodológico sobre o tema no contexto brasileiro, e toma o Diário Oficial da União (DOU) como fonte de dados potencial para análise do financiamento público de pesquisa em saúde no Brasil, especificamente em dengue. A metodologia desenvolvida, embora com limitações, desvela o potencial dessa fonte de dados para análises quantitativas sobre o esforço de pesquisa com financiamento público no Brasil.

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